CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Michael Porter Jr. scored 22 points, Nikola Jokic had 18 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists and the Denver Nuggets held the Charlotte Hornets to two field goals in the third quarter in a 102-95 victory Saturday night.
Jamal Murray added 20 points and 12 rebounds for Denver, which opened the second half on a 25-1 run and outscored the Hornets 30-9 in the third quarter.
Miles Bridges led Charlotte with 22 points, P.J. Washington had 20 and rookie Nick Smith Jr. made five 3-pointers for a career-high 19 points. The injury-riddled Hornets have lost seven straight.
Charlotte ruled out Terry Rozier because of a knee injury before the game and lost No. 2 overall pick Brandon Miller to a sprained ankle in the second quarter when he got stepped on by Peyton Watson. Miller hobbled to the locker room and did not return..
On the bright side for the Hornets, Cody Martin saw his first action since Jan. 14. Martin had only played in seven games since the start of the 2022-23 season and hadn’t played at all this season. He had six points in 17 minutes.
The Nuggets have eclipsed 100 points in 28 of their last 29 games.
The Hornets led 60-54 after the half, but the Nuggets took control by opening the second half on a 15-0 tear behind Jokic, Murray and Aaron Gordon, who had 14 points. The Nuggets held the Hornets to 2-of-22 shooting in the third quarter to build an 18-point lead.
The Hornets would rally within three late behind Smith, who got hot from long distance.Smith’s previous career high was nine points.
But Jokic, playing with five fouls, scored on a spin move to give the Nuggets a 99-94 lead. Jokic added two free throws and the Hornets had a costly 5-second violation on an inbounds play under their own basket with 43 seconds left.
Jokic fouled out a few seconds later, but the Denver hung on.
UP NEXT
Nuggets: At Golden State on Monday.
Hornets: At Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night.
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