UNDATED (AP) — Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic allowed the Denver Nuggets to end a two-game skid.
Murray pumped in a career-high 50 points and Jokic had a triple-double as the Nuggets handed the Cavaliers their ninth straight loss, 120-103.
Murray hit 21 of his 25 shots, including 8 of 10 3-pointers. He scored 20 points in the final period, including three 3-pointers in a 65-second span to put the Nuggets ahead by 21.
Jokic had 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in getting his seventh triple-double this season.
Michael Porter Jr. added 22 points for the Nuggets, who hit their first 12 shots.
Meanwhile, the Western Conference leaders were beaten in Los Angeles.
Kawhi Leonard scored 29 points and reserve Lou Williams had 19 as the Clippers stopped Utah’s nine-game winning streak, 116-112. The Clippers avenged an 18-point loss to Utah two nights earlier, when starters Leonard, Paul George and Nicolas Batum were sidelined. George had 15 points in his return from a seven-game absence with an injured toe.
Donovan Mitchell scored 29 of his 35 points in the second half for the NBA-leading Jazz, who lost for just the second time in their last 22 games and fell to 24-6.
Checking out Friday’s other NBA action:
— All-Star Joel Embiid torched the Bulls for a career-high 50 points in leading the 76ers to a 112-105 victory. Embiid added 17 rebounds, five assists, four blocks and two steals in a dominating performance at both ends of the court. Tobias Harris had 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Eastern Conference-leading 76ers, who played a second straight game without Ben Simmons due to illness.
— The Bucks’ season-worst, five-game losing streak is over after Giannis Antetokounmpo furnished 29 points, a season-high 19 rebounds and eight assists in a 98-85 downing of the Thunder. Khris Middleton added 20 points and helped Milwaukee set a season low for points allowed. The game was tied at 42-all late in the second quarter before the Bucks began an 18-0 run.
— Nikola Vucevic recorded his third triple-double and the Magic overcame a 13-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Warriors 124-120. Vucevic made two free throws with 16 seconds left and finished with 30 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists. Stephen Curry finished with 29 points, 11 assists and six rebounds but missed a potential game-tying, off-balance 3-pointer from 27 feet with five seconds left.
— Kemba Walker scored a season-high 28 points and the Celtics led by as many as 27 in a 121-109 win over the Hawks. Walker provided nine straight points while the Celts were reeling off a 20-5 run to take a 62-37 lead late in the first half. Jayson Tatum added 25 points and eight rebounds for the Celtics, who have won two of three since dropping five of seven.
— Chris Paul contributed 15 points, dished out a season-high 19 assists and spearheaded an 11-point, fourth-quarter comeback by the Suns in a 132-114 decision over the Pelicans. Phoenix shot 22-for-39 from 3-point range as Jae Crowder hit six 3s on his way to 20 points. Frank Kaminsky hit five 3s for the bulk of his 17 points, and Devin Booker scored a team-high 23 points in the Suns’ 10th win in 12 games.
— Norman Powell furnished a season-high 31 points and the Raptors closed on an 11-0 run to knock off the Timberwolves, 86-81. Fred VanVleet had 12 points and seven rebounds, while Pascal Siakam added 10 points and nine boards in Toronto’s third win in a row. Minnesota dropped its third in a row since winning at Toronto on Sunday.
— Ja Morant scored 21 of his 29 points in the second half as the Grizzlies past the Pistons, 109-95. Jonas Valanciunas added 17 points and 15 rebounds to help Memphis pick up its second straight win. The Grizzlies presvented the Pistons from scoring a field goal over 6 minutes after Detroit pulled within 90-89 midway through the fourth quarter.
