JAMAL Murray poured in a career-best 55 points to lead the Nuggets to a 132-121 victory over the visiting Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila), Denver’s eighth straight victory.
Murray’s output is the third most in Nuggets’ history. David Thompson scored a franchise-record 73 on the final day of the 1977-78 season when he was outdueled by George Gervin for the scoring title. Nikola Jokic’s 56 points against Washington on Dec. 7 of this season ranks second.
Murray knocked down 20 of 36 shots, including 7 of 15 from 3-point range. Jokic added 26 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists, and Christian Braun had 21 points, 10 rebounds and six assists for the Nuggets.
Anfernee Simons scored 26 points as Portland lost its third straight after winning six in a row. Rookie Donovan Clingan had 17 points and a career-best 20 rebounds and Jabari Walker also scored 17 points for the Trail Blazers.
In other games, it was the Knicks 149, Hawks 148 (OT); Bucks 103, Wolves 101;
Celtics 116, Spurs 103; Pacers 134, Wizards 130 (OT) ; Rockets 119, Suns 111; Magic 102, Hornets 86; Cavs 131, Raptors 108; Thunder 115, Heat 101; Nets 100, Sixers 96; Pistons 128, Bulls 110; Kings 119, Pelicans 111; Jazz 131, Lakers 119; Mavs 111, Warriors 107; and Clippers 128, Grizzlies 114.
Knicks 149, Hawks 148 (OT)
Jalen Brunson hit the game-winning shot with 11 seconds left in overtime for host New York, which overcame a five-point deficit in the extra session to edge Atlanta in the highest-scoring NBA game of the season.
Karl-Anthony Towns posted 44 points and 10 rebounds for the Knicks, who enter the All-Star break with nine wins in their last 11 games. Brunson had 36 points and eight assists, and Josh Hart added 18 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.
Trae Young had 38 points and 19 assists for the Hawks, who forced overtime when Georges Niang sank a 3-pointer with 10 seconds left. Onyeka Okongwu had 21 points and 14 rebounds, and CarisLeVert notched 20 points and 10 rebounds for Atlanta, which didn’t lead until overtime.
Bucks 103, Wolves 101
Brook Lopez sank a pair of free throws with 10.9 seconds to go, and Milwaukee held on for a win over Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Gary Trent Jr. finished with 21 points off the bench for Milwaukee, which played without Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) and Damian Lillard (hamstring). Kyle Kuzma registered 19 points and 13 rebounds.
Anthony Edwards scored 28 points but missed 23 of 33 shots for Minnesota, but he missed two shots in the final seconds. Naz Reid (22 points, 13 rebounds) and Rudy Gobert (20 points, 14 rebounds) each recorded a double-double.
