The Denver Nuggets picked up right where they left off before the All-Star break - with a win. (More Sports News)
🐼Murray made 7 of 10 shots from 3-point range, while Jokic attempted a career-high 14 3-pointers and made six. He finished with 29 points, 17 rebounds and nine assists to fall just short of his 26th triple-double
The Denver Nuggets picked up right where they left off before the All-Star break - with a win. (More Sports News)
ꦍLed by Jamal Murray's 34 points and Nikola Jokic's near triple-double, the Nuggets won their first game coming out of the break, extending their season-high winning streak to nine games with a 129-115 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday.
🔯Murray made 7 of 10 shots from 3-point range, while Jokic attempted a career-high 14 3-pointers and made six. He finished with 29 points, 17 rebounds and nine assists to fall just short of his 26th triple-double.
♔The Nuggets (37-19), who haven't lost since January 29, moved a half-game ahead of Memphis for second place in the Western Conference with the Grizzlies losing 127-113 to the Indiana Pacers. Denver hasn't won 10 straight games since a franchise-record 15-game run during the 2012-13 season.
ಌThe Hornets (14-40) have lost 10 of their last 12 games and played without LeMelo Ball, as their leading scorer sat out the second half of a back-to-back to rest his sore right ankle.
ꦓMiles Bridges stepped up for short-handed Charlotte, scoring a season-high 36 points to go with 13 rebounds and seven assists.
James scores 40 as Lakers hold off Trail Blazers
Another 40-point game for the 40-year-old.
ꦛLeBron James scored 40 to become the first 40-year-old with multiple 40-point games and Austin Reaves added 32 as the Los Angeles Lakers held on to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 110-102.
🍎With Los Angeles leading 83-81 just over two minutes into the fourth quarter, James scored eight straight points for the Lakers to help them pull away - with a pair of deep 3-pointers highlighting the scoring surge.
🤪It was the second 40-point game of February for James, who was playing in his 1,542nd regular-season game to move him past Vince Carter for third on the all-time list. James also had eight rebounds and four assists, but turned the ball over 11 times to match a career worst.
ꦫThe Lakers (33-21) were playing without the newly acquired Luka Doncic, who had the night off as he works his way back from a calf injury after playing 33 minutes in Wednesday's 100-97 win over the Charlotte Hornets.
🦋Deni Avdija had a team-high 28 points for the Trail Blazers (23-33), who suffered a fourth straight loss after winning their previous six games.
Antetokounmpo returns as Bucks rally past Clippers
🐟Giannis Antetokounmpo was back on the court for Milwaukee, though was resting on the bench when the Bucks completed their 116-110 comeback win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
🤪Antetokounmpo had 23 points and eight rebounds in his first game since February 2 after missing Milwaukee's last six games because of a strained calf. The two-time NBA MVP was on a minutes restriction, however, and played a little less than 24 minutes, heading to the bench for good with 6:27 remaining in the fourth quarter with the Bucks trailing 101-96.
ꦇDamian Lillard and Brook Lopez then took over, putting the finishing touches on Milwaukee's 13-point, fourth-quarter comeback.
🍸Lillard scored nine of his 15 points after Antetokounmpo checked out, while Lopez had six of his 22 points in the final six minutes. Lopez's three-point play with 3:02 remaining gave the Bucks the lead for good.
ꦿMilwaukee (30-24) was playing without Bobby Portis after he was suspended 25 games by the NBA for testing positive for the painkiller Tramadol, which is in violation of the league's anti-drug program.
ℱKawhi Leonard led the Clippers (31-24) with 25 points, while James Harden added 24 and Ivica Zubac contributed 20 points and 15 rebounds.