UNDATED (AP) — The Denver Nuggets have ended their longest losing streak in nearly six years.
The Nuggets had dropped six straight before Nikola Jokic returned to score 24 points in a 120-111 victory at Miami. Jokic hadn’t played in the last four of those because of a wrist injury but finished with 15 rebounds and seven assists.
Aaron Gordon chipped in 20 points and Bones Hyland added 19 for the Nuggets, who shot 58%.
Checking out Monday’s other NBA action:
— The Jazz trounced the Trail Blazers, 129-107 behind Donovan Mitchell’s 30 points and Rudy Gobert’s double-double. Gobert contributed 21 points and 16 boards for Utah, which shot 53 percent and hit 19 3-pointers.
— The Cavaliers were 114-96 winners at Dallas as Jarrett Allen and Lauri Markkanen notched season highs with 28 and 24 points respectively. Allen also had 14 rebounds, while Darius Garland added 18 points in Cleveland’s most lopsided win of the season.
— Jonas Valančiūnas provided 29 of his career-high 39 points in a spectacular first half that propelled the Pelicans past the Clippers, 123-104. The 6-foot-11 Lithuanian hit seven 3-pointers without a miss in the first half.
— The Spurs have their first winning streak of the season after Derrick White delivered 24 points and Dejounte Murray added 22 with 10 rebounds in a 116-99 decision over the Wizards. Murray also had eight assists as San Antonio stopped Washington’s winning streak at two games.
— Seth Curry scored 24 points and Tobias Harris had 17 as the 76ers downed the Magic, 101-96 after blowing a 16-point lead. Philadelphia hit seven free throws in the final minute.
— The Rockets have a three-game winning streak after Christian Wood furnished 24 points and a career-high 21 rebounds in their 102-89 win against the Thunder. Kevin Porter Jr. had a triple-double of 11 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds to help Houston remain unbeaten since a 15-game losing streak.
— Nikola Vucevic had a double-double with a season-best 30 points and 14 boards in the Bulls’ 133-119 downing of the Hornets. DeMar DeRozan accounted for 28 points, Zah LaVine had 25 and Chicago shot a season-high 59.6% from the field.
— Karl-Anthony Towns scored 16 of his 32 points in the third period to help the Timberwolves crawl out of a 12-point hole in a 100-98 triumph over the Pacers. Anthony Edwards and D’Angelo Russell each provided 21 points, with Russell adding 11 assists and seven boards.
Nuggets’ Porter to have back surgery
MIAMI (AP) — Denver Nuggets star Michael Porter Jr. will undergo back surgery that will keep him out an indefinite period.
Porter’s agent said the surgery is scheduled for Wednesday. Porter dealt with a serious back problem in college, so severe that some wondered if he would ever be an effective NBA player. He has been limited to nine games this season.
