Jokic’s Triple-Double Lifts Nuggets Over Hornets in Nail-Biter

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Nikola Jokic delivered a dominant performance with 28 points, 17 assists, and 13 rebounds, securing his 22nd triple-double of the season to lead the Denver Nuggets to a thrilling 107-104 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night at Spectrum Center.

The Nuggets, coming off a hard-fought win in Philadelphia the previous night, faced a resilient Hornets team that erased a 17-point deficit to take a late lead. Charlotte surged ahead 104-100 with 51 seconds remaining, but Denver closed the game on a 7-0 run, capped by Jamal Murray‘s clutch layup and defensive pressure on the final play.

Christian Braun contributed 24 points and 11 rebounds, while Murray added 20 points despite a slow start. The Nuggets struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 7 for 37 on 3-pointers, but their defense and Jokic’s leadership proved decisive in the final moments.

“That team never quit. They kept on coming at us,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “Just proud of our group for not panicking.”

Charlotte’s Miles Bridges led the Hornets with 24 points and 12 rebounds, while Nick Richards added 20 points and 15 rebounds. The Hornets, who have lost four straight, were without star guard LaMelo Ball for the third consecutive game due to a sprained left ankle.

Denver’s victory was nearly derailed by a controversial call with two minutes remaining. Jokic appeared to score a go-ahead basket, but a successful Hornets challenge revealed he had grazed the ball while it was over the cylinder, nullifying the points. Bridges then scored four straight points to give Charlotte the lead, but Jokic responded with a crucial 3-point play to shift momentum back to Denver.

The Nuggets were also short-handed, missing Russell Westbrook (left hamstring) and Peyton Watson (right knee), both injured in Friday’s game. Malone expressed cautious optimism about their recovery but provided no specific timeline for their return.

Zeke Nnaji stepped up in Watson’s absence, recording five blocks and playing a pivotal role in Denver’s defense. His performance included key stops against Bridges and a game-saving block on Josh Green in the fourth quarter.

Denver (30-19) returns home to face the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday, while Charlotte (12-34) hosts the Washington Wizards the same night.