Nikola Jokic hit a clutch three-pointer with 39 seconds left, and Jamal Murray recorded a double-double as the Denver Nuggets secured a 137-134 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night. Denver (29-19) snapped a three-game losing streak, while Philadelphia (19-28) saw its four-game winning run come to an end.
Murray led the Nuggets with 31 points and 11 assists, while Jokic finished just shy of a triple-double with 28 points, 13 assists, and nine rebounds. Michael Porter Jr. contributed 24 points, and Julian Strawther provided a spark off the bench with 18.
Tyrese Maxey erupted for 42 points and nine assists, marking his fourth straight 30-point game. Guerschon Yabusele added a career-high 28 points, and Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 27 for the 76ers, who kept pace until the final seconds.
Jokic and Maxey traded baskets in a tense fourth quarter, each scoring double digits in the period. Maxey’s layup tied the game at 130 before Jokic responded with the decisive three-pointer to put Denver ahead for good.
Denver, the NBA leader in field goal percentage, shot a staggering 65.9% from the floor and had six players in double figures. The Nuggets’ bench outscored Philadelphia’s reserves 39-17, with Christian Braun adding 15 points.
Russell Westbrook left the game in the fourth quarter after injuring his hamstring while being stripped by Ricky Council IV. He limped to the locker room and did not return.
Maxey’s 42-point effort extended his streak of scoring at least 28 points to 13 consecutive games. He connected on six three-pointers and shot 57.7% from the field, but his heroics were not enough to overcome Denver’s efficiency.
The 76ers shot 55.6% overall and 52.5% from beyond the arc, but Denver’s superior shooting and ball movement made the difference. The Nuggets finished with 39 assists on 54 made field goals, while Philadelphia had 29 assists on 50 makes.
