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Nikola Jokic triple double lifts Denver Nuggets over Phoenix Suns as Jalen Brunson leads New York Knicks past New Orleans Pelicans in tight playoff races.
Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic protects the ball from Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (AP)
Nikola Jokic recorded 23 points, 17 rebounds and tied a season high with 17 assists to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 125-123 win over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night.
Jokic hit the go-ahead basket, sinking a 12-foot jumper with 11.5 seconds remaining. Phoenix’s Devin Booker then got a clean look at a potential game-winning 3-pointer, but it bounced off the rim.
The Suns trailed 117-109 with 3:19 left but steadily clawed back. Booker hit a difficult jumper in the lane to tie the game at 123 with 30.2 seconds to go. He finished with 22 points and eight assists.
Jokic notched his NBA-leading 29th triple-double of the season by early in the third quarter. The three-time MVP shot 9 of 16 from the field and delivered several pinpoint passes, including a full-court assist that led to a layup by Christian Braun.
The Nuggets, who have battled injuries for most of the season, are now close to full strength. Jamal Murray scored 21 points, and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 18 off the bench.
Denver led by 10 at halftime, but Jordan Goodwin and Grayson Allen hit back-to-back 3-pointers late in the third quarter to help Phoenix cut the deficit to 97-95 heading into the fourth. Allen and Jalen Green each finished with 21 points.
The Nuggets have won six of their last eight games and sit 1 1/2 games behind the Lakers for the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference playoff race.
The slumping Suns have lost six of seven and face an uphill battle to avoid the play-in tournament. They are currently the No. 7 team in the West.
Jokic — who received an early technical foul after heated comments directed at referee Dannica Baroody — had 15 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists by halftime.
Knicks Close On Celtics
Jalen Brunson scored 32 points as the New York Knicks extended their winning streak to seven games with a 121-116 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday.
Brunson was one of seven Knicks players to finish in double figures, with Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby adding 21 points apiece at Madison Square Garden.
The win kept the Knicks in close pursuit of the Boston Celtics in the battle for the No.2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
With less than three weeks remaining in the regular season, the Knicks sit third in the East at 48-25, just behind the Celtics, who are second at 47-24. Detroit lead the conference with a 52-19 record.
Zion Williamson scored 22 points to lead the Pelicans, who have been eliminated from playoff contention in the Western Conference.
In other games, Donovan Mitchell poured in 42 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers edged the Orlando Magic 136-131.
The Cavaliers’ fourth straight win keeps them in fourth place in the Eastern Conference at 45-27.
The Charlotte Hornets stayed in the playoff hunt by thrashing the Sacramento Kings 134-90.
The Hornets are one of three teams clustered in the middle of the Eastern Conference standings with identical 38-34 records.
The Philadelphia 76ers sit just above them at 39-33, one spot outside the final automatic playoff berth, currently held by the Atlanta Hawks (40-22).
(With inputs from Agencies)
March 25, 2026, 12:12 IST
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