DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic had 23 points, 18 rebounds and 11 assists for his 12th triple-double of the season to lead the Denver Nuggets over the short-handed Toronto Raptors, 133-118. Jokic has 40 triple-doubles in his short career, completing his latest by feeding Jerami Grant on a dunk that helped the Nuggets pull away from the Raptors. Toronto lost its third straight. Grant finished with 16 points for Denver, which had eight players score in double figures. Toronto played without Serge Ibaka and Fred VanVleet for a second straight game but got a career night from OG Anunoby, who finished with 32 points on 12-of-16 shooting.
The Milwaukee Bucks had some trouble with the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday before the NBA’s top team extended its latest winning streak to six games. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 41 points, 20 rebounds and six assists to carry the Bucks past the Hornets, 93-85. Charlotte kept it close until the final two minutes, when the Greek Freak hit a baseline jump, grabbed an offensive rebound, hit a pair of free throws and scored on a driving layup with 1:09 remaining to send fans to the exits. Brook Lopez added 16 points and seven rebounds for the Bucks, who've won 20 of their last 22 games and improved to a league-best 52-8 on the season.
LeBron James notched a triple-double of 34 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds as the Lakers held off Zion Williamson and the Pelicans, 122-114. Kyle Kuzma helped make up for the absence of injured forward Anthony Davis by scoring 20 points, including a 3-pointer that put the Lakers up 113-109 with 3:40 to go. Williamson poured in a season-high 35 points but committed six turnovers that helped Los Angeles improve to 46-13.
The Clippers ran their winning streak to four games as Kawhi Leonard scored 30 points and Paul George chipped in 24 in a 136-130 victory over the 76ers. Reserves Montrezl Harrell and Lou Williams also had 24 points for the Clippers, who took control by outscoring Philadelphia, 38-24 in the third quarter. Shake Milton led the Sixers with 39 points, including seven 3-pointers.
Kristaps Porzingis tied a season high with 38 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in leading the Mavericks to a 111-91 thumping of the Timberwolves. Seth Curry finished with 27 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 19 as Dallas won for the third time in four games. Mavs guard Luka Doncic was held out of the game with a sprained thumb that could prevent him from playing Monday at Chicago.
De’Aaron Fox scored 11 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter of the Kings’ fourth win in five games since the All-Star break, 106-100 against the Pistons. Buddy Hield furnished 19 points for Sacramento, which stormed back after falling behind, 18-1. The Kings are three games from a Western Conference playoff spot.
Bradley Beal’s 34 points, eight assists and season-best five steals sent the Wizards to their first win at Golden State in six years, 123-110. Beal has scored at least 25 points in a franchise-record 18 straight games. He scored 20 in the initial 8:51 of the game and had 27 by intermission, making six of his seven 3-pointers in the first half.