Nikola Jokic delivered a dominant performance in his return, recording 39 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 127-117 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night.
Jokic, who had missed five games with a left ankle injury, notched his league-leading 30th triple-double of the season. Denver (46-28) secured the victory despite defensive struggles against a depleted Milwaukee lineup.
Michael Porter Jr. scored 23 points, making his first six shots, including five three-pointers. Christian Braun added 19 points and played a key role in a crucial third-quarter run.
The Bucks (40-32) were without Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was sidelined with a sprained left foot, and Damian Lillard, who was recently diagnosed with blood clots in his right calf. Brook Lopez stepped up with 26 points, marking his third straight game with at least 20.
Milwaukee kept the game close, taking an 88-83 lead in the third quarter. However, Denver responded with a 13-1 run, highlighted by a three-pointer from Braun.
The Nuggets, who had lost three of their previous four games, shot 54.4% from the field and matched the Bucks with 16 made threes. Denver also held a 46-39 rebounding advantage.
Milwaukee has now dropped seven of its last 11 games as it continues to navigate key absences. The Bucks saw seven players score in double figures, including Gary Trent Jr. with 16 and AJ Green with 15 off the bench.
With the victory, Denver remains third in the Western Conference, while Milwaukee drops to sixth in the East, looking to regain momentum down the stretch.
