- Nikola Jokić scored 40 points in Denver’s seventh consecutive win
- Christian Braun added 26 points as Denver dominated Portland
- Portland’s Donovan Clingan set a career-high with 21 points
- DeMar DeRozan hit a season-high 42 points, including the game-winner for Sacramento
- Kyrie Irving led Dallas with 30 points in a narrow overtime loss
Key Takeaways:
Nikola Jokić scored 40 points, Christian Braun added 26, and the Denver Nuggets secured their seventh consecutive NBA victory while setting a season-high in points with a 146-117 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Denver built a 17-point lead in the first quarter and led 70-55 at halftime before Portland cut the deficit to just seven early in the third. The Nuggets responded with a 14-3 run to close the quarter and had no trouble sealing the victory.
Exceptional performance in just three quarters 🃏
40 PTS on 68.1% shooting pic.twitter.com/zR9V3JZmMv
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) February 11, 2025
Jamal Murray contributed 17 points and eight assists before receiving his second technical foul on the night. This marks the longest winning streak of the season for the Nuggets, who played their second straight game without Michael Porter. Donovan Clingan recorded a career-high 21 points, while Dalano Banton added 22 for the Blazers, who suffered their second consecutive loss after winning 10 of their previous 11 games.
In another game, DeMar DeRozan scored a season-high 42 points, including the game-winning basket in overtime, as Sacramento secured a 129-128 road victory over Dallas. He made 15 of his 22 field goal attempts, converted all eight of his free throws, and sealed the win with a shot 1.9 seconds before the end of overtime. Domantas Sabonis contributed 16 points, 15 rebounds, and 8 assists, while Zach LaVine and Malik Monk each added 17 points.
Kyrie Irving led Dallas with 30 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. The Mavericks lost center Daniel Gafford to a sprained right knee after he collided knee-to-knee with Monk early in the second quarter. The hosts were also without key forwards Anthony Davis and P.J. Washington, as well as centers Dereck Lively II and Dwight Powell, all sidelined due to injuries.