DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic had 39 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists for his NBA-best 12th triple-double of the season as the Denver Nuggets beat the Houston Rockets 128-125 in overtime Monday night in a matchup of two of the top three teams in the Western Conference standings.
Jamal Murray added 35 points for Denver, including six of his team's 11 points in overtime. Murray made 14 of 15 free throws.
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The win was the Nuggets' fifth in a row and their first at home since November 8th.
There were four ties and four lead changes in the final 1:40 of regulation, a stretch that ended with Murray's free throw to tie the game with 2.3 seconds left after an offside foul on Houston's Amen Thompson. Denver retained possession after the free throw, but Jokic's 3-pointer from the top was long.
The Nuggets led 124-117 on Spencer Jones' 3 with 2:59 remaining in overtime, but the Rockets battled back to within three with 13 seconds remaining. Alperen Sengun missed a controversial 3-yard kick from 24 feet with 4.9 seconds left, allowing Denver to hold on for the win.
Sengun paced the Rockets with 33 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds for his first triple-double of the season. Kevin Durant added 25 points, seven assists, five rebounds and five blocks for Houston, which lost its third straight road game.
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The Nuggets, already down two starters Aaron Gordon (hamstring) and Christian Braun (ankle), played most of the game without starting guard Peyton Watson, who left the field six minutes into the first quarter after suffering a contusion to his right torso.
Next
Rockets: Thursday against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Nuggets: Host the Orlando Magic on Thursday.
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NBA AP: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBA
