NBA Roundup: Nuggets Spoil Doc Rivers’ Bucks Debut

Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers (R) greets Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone (L) after the game at Ball Arena in Denver on Jan. 29, 2024. Isaiah J. Downing/USA TODAY Sports via Field Level Media

Nikola Jokic had 25 points, 16 rebounds and 12 assists for his 14th triple-double of the season as the host Denver Nuggets spoiled Doc Rivers’ debut as Milwaukee’s head coach with a 113–107 win over the Bucks on Monday night.

Jokic has 119 career triple-doubles in the regular season (the fourth-highest total in NBA history), with six coming against Milwaukee.

The Bucks fired first-year coach Adrian Griffin on Jan. 23 and hired Rivers three days later. They went 2–1 under interim coach Joe Prunty before Rivers coached his first game Monday night.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 29 points and 12 rebounds, Brook Lopez scored 19, Damian Lillard finished with 18, Khris Middleton contributed 14 and Bobby Portis grabbed 12 rebounds for Milwaukee.

Nets 147, Jazz 114

Mikal Bridges scored 33 points and Ben Simmons posted a double-double in his 18-minute return from a back injury as Brooklyn pulled away from Utah in New York.

Simmons logged 10 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds after sitting out the previous 38 games. Cam Thomas netted 25 points for the Nets, who finished with a season-high point total as they won their second straight game.

Rookie Keyonte George scored 21 points, but the Jazz lost for the fourth time in six games.

Cavaliers 118, Clippers 108

Donovan Mitchell had 28 points and 12 assists to help Cleveland beat visiting Los Angeles and end the Clippers’ five-game winning streak.

Jarrett Allen had 20 points and 17 rebounds for his 15th straight double-double and Isaac Okoro scored all 17 of his points in the first half for the Cavaliers, who and nine rebounds. Kawhi Leonard had 30 points and eight rebounds to lead the Clippers.

Mavericks 131, Magic 129

Luka Doncic recorded game highs of 45 points and 15 assists to go with nine rebounds, Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 13 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter, and Dallas rallied from down 16 points to fend off visiting Orlando.

There were eight lead changes over the final 7:35, including two on Hardaway 3-pointers. He shot 11 of 17 from the floor overall and 5 of 9 from beyond the arc.

Orlando pulled within one twice down the stretch but could not fully bridge the gap. Paolo Banchero led the Magic with 36 points and nine rebounds. He also dished seven assists and made two steals.

Suns 118, Heat 105

Reserve Eric Gordon scored 23 points and Devin Booker added 22 as Phoenix sent host Miami to its seventh straight loss—the Heat’s longest since the 2007–08 season and Miami’s longest under Erik Spoelstra.

Booker, who averaged 53 points in his two previous games, got off to a slow start. He scored just eight points in the first half before playing better after the break.

Miami was led by Jimmy Butler, who had a game-high 26 points to go with eight rebounds and four assists. Grayson Allen of Phoenix sprained his right ankle in the second quarter and scored just three points.

Knicks 113, Hornets 92

Jalen Brunson pumped in 32 points, Donte DiVincenzo racked up 28 points and New York didn’t miss a beat despite playing without one of its top players, drubbing host Charlotte for a season-high seventh consecutive victory.

The Knicks had a huge third quarter by scoring 44 points, nearly matching their entire first-half total (46). New York played its first game since standout forward Julius Randle sustained a shoulder injury Saturday afternoon.

The Hornets were blowout victims at home for the third time across a four-night stretch despite rookie Brandon Miller’s 29 points (matching a career best) and Miles Bridges’ 21 points.

Celtics 118, Pelicans 112

Jayson Tatum produced 28 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists to help Boston avoid a third straight home loss with a victory over New Orleans.

Jaylen Brown added 22 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists for the Celtics, who overcame an 11-point, fourth-quarter deficit. Brandon Ingram scored 28 points and Zion Williamson finished with 26 for the Pelicans.

The Celtics trailed by 92–81 early in the fourth but went on a 23–6 run to take a 104–98 lead. Derrick White gave the Celtics the lead for good when he made a 3-pointer that put Boston in front 99–98 with 5:05 to play.

Rockets 135, Lakers 119

Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun posted near-matching double-doubles as Houston blistered visiting Los Angeles.

Green produced his third consecutive double-double with 34 points, a career-high 12 rebounds, and seven assists. Sengun tallied 31 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists as that duo co-authored a rousing offensive effort from the Rockets, who shot 53.1 percent from the floor and scored 29 fastbreak points.

LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and D'Angelo Russell scored 23 points apiece for the Lakers, with James adding a team-high 10 assists. Los Angeles had won five of its previous seven games.

Timberwolves 107, Thunder 101

Anthony Edwards scored 27 points to lead Minnesota over host Oklahoma City.

The victory put the Timberwolves a game up on the Thunder for the top record in the Western Conference and gave Minnesota a split in the teams’ four-game season series.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 37 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.

Kings 103, Grizzlies 94

De'Aaron Fox scored a game-high 23 points and Kevin Huerter gave Sacramento the lead for good late in the fourth quarter as the visiting Kings beat Memphis.

Domantas Sabonis finished with a game-high 26 rebounds to go with 20 points for the Kings, who outshot the Grizzlies 51.2 percent to 37.5 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 51–37.

Jaren Jackson Jr. paced the Grizzlies with 22 points while David Roddy grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds and scored nine points.

Wizards 118, Spurs 113

Kyle Kuzma racked up 18 points and 11 rebounds and Daniel Gafford added 16 points and 13 boards as Washington rallied to win at San Antonio, giving the Wizards back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

Marvin Bagley III and Jones scored 15 points apiece for Washington, with Poole adding 13.

Devin Vassell led San Antonio with 24 points. Victor Wembanyama added 22 points and 11 rebounds, Cedi Osman hit for a season-high 20 points off the bench.

Trail Blazers 130, 76ers 104

Jerami Grant scored 27 points and Malcolm Brogdon added 24 points and nine assists to help host Portland roll past short-handed Philadelphia.

The 76ers were without reigning MVP and NBA scoring leader Joel Embiid (knee) for the second straight game. Philadelphia fell to 3–9 without Embiid this season.

Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 25 points for Philadelphia, which sustained its second-worst losing margin of the season and dropped to 0–3 on a five-game road trip. Patrick Beverley added 14 points and Paul Reed had 11 for the 76ers.