Nikola Jokic triple-double lifts Nuggets past Blazers

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Nikola Jokic triple-double lifts Nuggets past Blazers image

Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic had 35 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists, and the Denver Nuggets rallied from a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 137-132 in overtime on Monday night.

Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images

Denver (51-28) moved into third place in the Western Conference with its season-high ninth straight win. Jokic recorded his 33rd triple-double and Jamal Murray scored seven of his 20 points in overtime to move the Nuggets a half-game ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers (50-28).

Portland (40-39) had its three-game winning streak snapped and dropped into ninth in the West, a half-game behind the Los Angeles Clippers.

Denver overcame 30 points from Toumani Camara, who hit eight of the Blazers’ franchise-record 25 3-pointers. Deni Avdija added 26 points and was 13 of 14 from the line to help Portland build a 115-99 lead with 8:13 left in the fourth.

The Nuggets, like they did in an overtime win against San Antonio on Saturday, rallied behind Jokic’s big night. He scored 10 points in the fourth and sparked a 21-5 run to close within one. Avdija hit two free throws to make it 123-120 but Aaron Gordon’s corner 3-pointer tied it with 1:12 left in regulation.

Avdija missed a 3-pointer, Gordon, who finished with 23 points, hit a baseline 20-footer to give the Nuggets a 125-123 lead and Avdija’s layup tied it with 20 seconds left. Jokic missed at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.

Gordon and Murray each hit a 3-pointer to open the extra period to give Denver a six-point lead. Murray’s two free throws and a dunk made it 135-128, and he fed Jokic for a layup to seal it.

Portland led by 14 at halftime and stretched it to 96-78 late in the third.