Nikola Jokic powered the Denver Nuggets to a 141-135 overtime victory against the New Orleans Pelicans after erasing a 19-point halftime deficit, while Joel Embiid and Devin Booker delivered dominant individual scoring nights across a busy eight-game NBA slate.
Jokic and Murray Spark Overtime Comeback Against New Orleans
The Denver Nuggets stared at a steep 19-point deficit at intermission before mounting a furious second-half rally. Nikola Jokic steered the turnaround by logging a triple-double with 35 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists. Jamal Murray added 42 points to keep the offense rolling as Denver eventually forced the extra session and outpaced the Pelicans. Trey Murphy III paced New Orleans with 26 points, but the visitors could not halt the surging hosts down the stretch.
Embiid Leads Philadelphia Past Milwaukee Without LeBron James
Philadelphia maintained its unblemished start to the young season by defeating the Milwaukee Bucks 127-116. Playing without LeBron James, the 76ers relied on Joel Embiid to orchestrate the floor and control the paint. Embiid delivered a stellar triple-double featuring 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. Kel’el Ware countered with 19 points and 13 rebounds for Milwaukee, yet the Bucks dropped to an early winless record alongside Miami.
Booker Explodes for 43 Points as Suns Edge Warriors
Devin Booker shouldered the scoring load for the Phoenix Suns in a 131-122 win over the Golden State Warriors. Booker poured in 43 points to go with 7 rebounds and 7 assists, slicing through the Golden State defense all evening. Yaxel Lendeborg contributed 26 points and 9 rebounds for the Warriors, who stumbled to their third defeat to open the campaign.
Rockets Outlast Hawks to Stay Perfect in Georgia
Down in Atlanta, the Houston Rockets built a 20-point advantage before weathering a furious late push from the Hawks to claim a 121-114 victory at State Farm Arena. The win pushed Houston to a 3-0 start for the first time since 2017. The texani nearly watched their cushion evaporate entirely when the lead shrunk to just five points with 18 seconds remaining. Kevin Durant then stepped to the free-throw line and calmly sank the clutch attempts to seal the outcome.
Around the League: Hornets, Cavaliers, Wizards, and Spurs Secure Wins
Elsewhere on the schedule, the Charlotte Hornets handed the Miami Heat a 115-110 loss. Brandon Miller led Charlotte with 34 points and 7 rebounds, while Davion Mitchell’s 22 points and 10 assists for Miami fell short despite a 35-19 fourth-quarter push by the Heat. The Cleveland Cavaliers fended off the Brooklyn Nets 125-121 behind 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks from Evan Mobley, outweighing Michael Porter Jr.’s 28-point night for Brooklyn. The Washington Wizards grabbed a 124-120 road win against the Chicago Bulls, fueled by Trae Young’s 25 points and 9 assists alongside a 40-20 third quarter. The San Antonio Spurs rolled past the Dallas Mavericks 122-106, with De’Aaron Fox tallying 19 points and 9 assists as San Antonio clamped down defensively to yield just 17 points in the final period.
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