Jamal Murray scored 45 points for the Denver Nuggets, holding off the Utah Jazz 128-125 on Monday night.
Jazz guard Keyonte George scored 36 points, but was denied two free throws that could have given the Jazz the lead on Nikola Jokic’s sixth foul with 16.3 seconds remaining.
A shooting foul was reversed to a blocked shot after a lengthy review.
Jokic had 22 points and 12 rebounds, and made two free throws with 6.1 seconds left, as George missed a last-second three-pointer as the Nuggets escaped with the win.
Meanwhile, Cam Johnson was a late scratch with a hurt ankle, but Julian Strawther scored 15 points and Jonas Valanciunas added 13 for Denver.
While Jokic was on the bench and most of his teammates lacked energy in the second game of a back-to-back, Murray made five three-pointers and scored 18 in the third to have an edge, 100-93 entering the fourth.
The Nuggets floor general was 13 of 19 from the field and had eight threes along with seven turnovers.
George matched Murray’s shot-making in 30 minutes of action on 14-for-22 shooting with four 3s after missing three weeks due to ankle sprain.
Kyle Filipowski scored 19 points, and Ace Bailey had 18 for the Jazz, who have lost six straight.
However, Lauri Markkanen and most of Utah’s starters and rotation regulars have been shelved due to injury, but the Jazz never let the Nuggets’ lead reach double figures.
The Nuggets host the Lakers on Thursday, while the Jazz visit the 76ers on Wednesday.
