Nikola Jokic returned from a 16-game absence to produce 31 points and 12 rebounds, leading the host Denver Nuggets over the Los Angeles Clippers 122-109 on Friday night.
Jokic, who had been sidelined since sustaining a left knee injury at Miami on Dec. 29, shot 13-for-17 from the foul line to help Denver win its second in a row. The Nuggets went 10-6 while he was out.
Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 22 points, Peyton Watson contributed 21 and Jamal Murray finished with 20 points for Denver.
The Clippers were led by James Harden, who recorded 25 points and nine assists. Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points as Los Angeles saw its three-game win streak end.
Lakers 142, Wizards 111
Luka Doncic punctuated his sixth triple-double of the season with 37 points as visiting Los Angeles rolled past Washington.
Doncic showed no ill effects from the injury he sustained when falling off Cleveland’s elevated court on Wednesday, reaching a triple-double by halftime with 26 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds. He finished with 13 assists and 11 boards.
Los Angeles’ Deandre Ayton posted 28 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, while LeBron James chipped in 20 points and six assists. Malaki Branham scored 17 points as the Wizards failed in a bid for their first three-game winning streak of the season.
Celtics 112, Kings 93
Payton Pritchard tossed in a game-high 29 points and Neemias Queta had 10 points and 15 rebounds to lead Boston to a victory over visiting Sacramento.
Pritchard made 12 of 16 shots from the field, including 5 of 6 3-point attempts. Anfernee Simons and Baylor Scheierman each added 16 points for the Celtics, who didn’t have leading scorer Jaylen Brown (hamstring/knee).
Zach LaVine scored 17 points and Maxime Raynaud logged 14 points and 14 rebounds, but the Kings lost their eighth game in a row.
Knicks 127, Trail Blazers 97
Karl-Anthony Towns posted 14 points and 20 rebounds New York, which continued surging with a wire-to-wire win over visiting Portland.
Jalen Brunson scored a team-high 26 points for the Knicks, who ended the month with five straight wins following a 2-9 skid that began Dec. 31. OG Anunoby (24 points) and Josh Hart (20) also contributed to New York’s offense.
Shaedon Sharpe scored 26 points for the Trail Blazers, who concluded a winless three-game East Coast road trip as they lost their fourth straight overall.
Pistons 131, Warriors 124
Cade Cunningham scored 29 points and handed out 11 assists as Detroit withstood a fourth-quarter rally to beat Golden State in San Francisco.
Jalen Duren added 21 points and 13 rebounds for the Pistons, who earned their third win four games. Duncan Robinson scored 15 points on five 3-pointers.
Golden State star Stephen Curry exited the game late in the third quarter due to right knee soreness and did not return. He scored a team-high 23 points.
Magic 130, Raptors 120
Desmond Bane scored 16 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter and sank a season-best seven 3-pointers, lifting host Orlando to a victory over Toronto.
Anthony Black scored 25 points and hit all 14 of his free-throw attempts for the Magic, who outscored the Raptors 44-21 in the fourth quarter. Wendell Carter Jr. chipped in with 23 points and seven rebounds.
Brandon Ingram led all scorers with 35 points, while Scottie Barnes totaled 19 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four blocks, but Toronto’s road winning streak ended at four games.
Suns 126, Cavaliers 113
Dillon Brooks scored 17 of his 27 points in Phoenix’s 45-point third quarter as the host Suns handled Cleveland.
Jordan Goodwin put up 17 points and made five 3-pointers while Collin Gillespie added 16 points for the Suns, who won their third straight. Phoenix sank a season-high 23 3-pointers in 48 attempts.
De’Andre Hunter scored 17 points and Donovan Mitchell and Jaylon Tyson added 16 points each for the Cavaliers, who had won a season-high five straight. Mitchell committed eight turnovers.
Pelicans 114, Grizzlies 106
Rookie Derik Queen scored 22 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out seven assists as New Orleans turned a dominant third quarter into a victory over visiting Memphis.
Saddiq Bey added 22 points and eight rebounds and Zion Williamson scored 21 as the Pelicans defeated the Grizzlies for the second time in eight days, marking their third win in four games overall.
Jaren Jackson Jr. and Cam Spencer each scored 16 points for the Grizzlies, who have lost five in a row.
Nets 109, Jazz 99
Egor Demin scored 25 points and collected 10 rebounds to lead Brooklyn past Utah in Salt Lake City.
Cam Thomas added 21 points to help the Nets end a seven-game losing streak. Day’Ron Sharpe chipped in 16 points and nine rebounds.
Keyonte George posted 26 points and seven assists while Kyle Filipowski had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Jazz, who lost their fifth straight game and fell to 1-9 in their past 10.
–Field Level Media
