Nikola Jokic had 27 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for his fourth straight triple-double and the host Denver Nuggets beat the reeling Philadelphia 76ers 144-109 on Tuesday night.
Jokic needed just three quarters to record his 19th triple-double of the season and the 149th of his career. Russell Westbrook, who finished with 11 points and nine assists on Tuesday, is the all-time leader in triple-doubles with 202.
Julian Strawther had a career-high 23 points thanks in part to five 3-pointers, which was a season high. Christian Braun scored 20 points and Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. contributed 19 apiece for Denver, which tied its season high in points and has won 11 of its past 14 games.
Philadelphia lost its seventh game in a row despite the returns of Paul George and Guerschon Yabusele, who both missed the previous two games, and Andre Drummond, who sat out during a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday.
Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 28 points and 10 assists, Yabusele scored 22 points and Justin Edwards and George each finished with 11 points.
Philadelphia had the first basket of the second half — a floater from Maxey — but the Nuggets quickly took control. Braun dunked and then fed Jokic for a hook shot and Porter for a 3-pointer to push the Nuggets’ lead to 84-69.
Drummond followed with a dunk of his own, but Denver continued to stretch the lead, going ahead 93-75 on Braun’s layup with 8:06 left in the third quarter.
Westbrook nabbed a steal and made a layup, Gordon made a corner 3-pointer and Jokic also connected from deep to make it 109-86 Denver later in the period.
Denver had a commanding 117-94 lead after three quarters.
The Nuggets led 46-32 early in the second quarter before Philadelphia put together a 12-3 run to get within 49-44. Strawther scored 14 points in the frame, though, and Denver was up 77-67 at the break.
