Denver, CO—–The Denver Nuggets rode another dominant performance from Nikola Jokic to a 128-112 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday, as the reigning MVP recorded his 35th triple-double of the season.
Jokic finished with 22 points, 14 rebounds, and 14 assists, while Jamal Murray matched him with 22 points. Cam Johnson chipped in 19, helping Denver snap Portland’s three-game road winning streak in a game the Nuggets controlled from start to finish.
Portland was led by Deni Avdija, who scored 23 points, with Donovan Clingan adding 18. The Trail Blazers never held a lead in the contest, closing out a challenging five-game road trip on a losing note.
A major boost for Denver came with the return of Peyton Watson, who played for the first time since early February due to a hamstring injury. In limited minutes, Watson contributed 14 points, showing flashes of the form that had him averaging nearly 15 points per game before the setback. Head coach David Adelman noted pregame that Watson’s role would be carefully managed as he works back into full rhythm.
Both teams came out firing in a high-paced start, each knocking down seven of their first 10 attempts from beyond the arc and shooting over 70% early. Murray and Johnson each buried four first-half threes for Denver, while Clingan kept Portland within striking distance with his own perimeter shooting, as the Nuggets took a 75-69 lead into halftime.
Denver began to separate in the third quarter behind Jokic, Aaron Gordon, and Johnson, who fueled an 11-0 run that stretched the lead to double digits. From there, the Nuggets maintained control, with seven players finishing in double figures.
Although Jokic committed five turnovers, it was a cleaner performance compared to his previous outing, and his all-around impact once again set the tone for Denver’s offense.
Up Next:
The Trail Blazers return home to face the Brooklyn Nets, while the Nuggets hit the road for a matchup against the Phoenix Suns.
