Nikola Jokic's 30-point performance was not enough for the Denver Nuggets (9-6) as they couldn't hold off the short-handed Philadelphia 76ers (9-7) who got an easy 103-89 (24-23, 34-29, 29-17, 16-20) win to snap a five-game losing streak.
| Player of the Game | |
|
EFF
25
|
| Tyrese Maxey | |
| Points | 22 |
| Accuracy | 9-15 |
| Rebounds | 5 |
| Assists | 4 |
Tyrese Maxey scored 22 points, Seth Curry added 20, as the Sixers played without Joel Embiid, who missed his sixth straight game after entering the NBA's COVID-19 health and safety protocols, but still managed to hold down Jokic to three points in the second half, in part thanks to the play of rookie big man Charles Bassey.
He had 12 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks on a night when enraged Nuggets coach Michael Malone was ejected and had to be restrained by Jokic after charging onto the court as Philadelphia took control in the third quarter.
Jokic had 30 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists before leaving the court for the locker room late in the fourth quarter. Will Barton returned from a back injury to finish with 19 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists for Denver.
The Nuggets shot 36% from the field in their second straight defeat after a five-game winning streak.
Philadelphia, which also got 17 points from Tobias Harris, was also again without Matisse Thybulle (health and safety protocols) and Danny Green (left hamstring). And there's been no resolution with Ben Simmons (personal reasons), who has asked to be traded.
The Sixers dominated Denver's bench and built a 46-29 lead on Georges Niang's 3-pointer midway through the second quarter.
Jokic returned and scored in a variety of ways to get Denver to 58-52 at the half. But Philadelphia held the Nuggets to 5/22 shooting in the third quarter in building a 20-point lead as Malone lost his cool after thinking Curry got away with an offensive foul.
Malone picked up consecutive technical fouls with six minutes eft and ran to center court to confront the officials. Jokic stepped in to cut off Malone, who was cheered as he headed through the tunnel to the locker room.
The ejection didn't spark the Nuggets, as a leaky defense and poor shooting allowed the Sixers to win for the first time since Nov. 6 at Chicago.
Philadelphia 76ers: Tyrese Maxey 22 (9/15 FG, 5 REB, 4 AST), Seth Curry 20 (8/17 FG, 1/8 3POINT SHOTS, 6 REB, 5 AST), Tobias Harris 17 (8/18 FG, 7 REB), Shake Milton 12 (5 REB, 4 AST), Charles Basey 12, Georges Niang 11 (5 REB, 3 AST), Furkan Korkmaz 5 (4 REB, 3 AST).
Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jokic 30 (10/17 FG, 7/9 FT, 10 REB, 7 AST), Will Barton 19 (7/14 FG, 9 REB, 8 AST), Monte Morris 11 (5/13 FG, 4 AST), Aaron Gordon 9 (4/13 FG).
Nikola Jokic's highlights:
Full game highlights:
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