Nikola Jokic scored 40 points with nine rebounds and eight assists to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 134-133 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night at State Farm Arena. Denver erased a 23-point deficit in the fourth quarter, marking their ninth consecutive road win.
Jamal Murray added 23 points and 12 assists, while Tim Hardaway Jr. contributed 17 points off the bench. The Nuggets’ late surge included a 23-3 run to open the fourth quarter, hitting their first seven three-pointers of the period, despite Jokic sitting out much of the rally.
Atlanta was paced by Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s 30 points and Kristaps Porzingis’ 25, but the Hawks couldn’t hold off Denver’s final charge. Jalen Johnson recorded a career-high 21 points, 18 rebounds, and 16 assists, becoming the first Hawks player in the play-by-play era to record a triple-double by halftime.
The Hawks dominated early, shooting 13 of 15 in the first quarter and establishing a 41-23 lead. Their advantage peaked at 63-40 in the second quarter, but Denver gradually chipped away behind Jokic and Murray’s orchestrated offense.
The game’s final sequence came down to the wire as the Hawks had a chance for a tying three-pointer on the last possession, but Murray blocked Alexander-Walker’s attempt. The loose ball led to a layup with two seconds remaining, after which Denver ran out the clock to seal the one-point win.
Denver shot 43% from three-point range and 80% from the free-throw line, while Atlanta converted 43% of their three-point attempts and an impressive 94% of free throws. The Nuggets forced crucial turnovers late, turning them into fast-break points that proved decisive.
Cam Johnson led Denver with 16 points and four rebounds, while Peyton Watson added nine points and six rebounds. On the Hawks’ side, Onyeka Okongwu scored 13 points with six rebounds, and Dyson Daniels chipped in 15 points and eight assists.
Denver (16-6) continues its four-game road trip with a matchup at Charlotte on Sunday, while Atlanta (13-11) faces Washington on Saturday, hoping to end a three-game skid.
