CHICAGO — Nikola Jokic went for 33 points and 14 assists, but the Nuggets dropped their second consecutive game on the road, 128-121 to the Bulls on Monday night.
Chicago was 45% from the 3-point line on 53 attempts. Denver (28-18) was 22% on 27 attempts. Next up is the Knicks on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden, a rematch after New York scored 144 on Denver earlier this season at Ball Arena.
The Bulls seized control with a 12-0 run late in the third quarter, taking a 90-88 lead after Denver’s only made field goals from the eight-minute mark to the two-minute mark were three dunks and a layup. That had been enough to get the job done in the first half when the Nuggets outscored Chicago 50-14 in the paint and 20-0 on fast breaks. But none of their jump shots were falling, and that eventually caught up with them against an opponent that ranks second in 3-point attempts this season.
Ayo Dosunmu drove for a go-ahead layup on the first possession of the fourth quarter to ignite another haymaker run, this time 13-0. Michael Malone was using an eight-man rotation, ending a 25-game streak of games played for DeAndre Jordan with Aaron Gordon at the backup five instead. It was a playoff-style iteration of the second unit, but it lacked the collective tenacity necessary to get rebounds against Chicago’s ultra-young lineup.
Christian Braun tried to will the Nuggets back into it, turning in one of his best games of the season: 28 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals. But Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. both had inefficient nights, while the Bulls’ shot-makers made theirs. Twice, the Nuggets cut the deficit to three in the last three minutes, only for Zach LaVine to answer with a 3-pointer of his own.
He scored 21 to lead his team, thanks to the late burst. Lonzo Ball added four 3s in a 16-point outing. Even at halftime, when the Nuggets led 68-61, the Bulls were 12 for 26 beyond the arc. Denver’s perimeter rotations and contests weren’t good enough all night.
Jokic had an astronomical four dunks, including one in transition on which he appeared to cock back his right arm before throwing it down. He made his first 11 shots from the floor and didn’t miss until late in the third — appropriate timing to coincide with Chicago taking over.
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