The Sports Xchange
Oct 29, 2017
NEW YORK -- Jamal Murray scored a season-high 26 points as the Denver Nuggets used a dominant start to the third quarter and pulled away for a 124-111 victory over the Brooklyn Nets Sunday night.
The second-year guard scored 16 of his points in the second half when the Nuggets outscored the Nets 64-48. He made 8 of 13 shots and came within four of his career high set April 7 against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Nikola Jokic contributed 21 points and 14 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season as the Nuggets produced their best showing by far on offense. Wilson Chandler contributed 14 of his 18 points in the third quarter when Denver started the period with a 31-6 run and outscored Brooklyn 40-21.
Emmanuel Mudiay added 15, Gary Harris contributed 14 and Paul Millsap totaled 13 and 11 rebounds as the Nuggets shot 50 percent and made 11 of 20 3-pointers.
Spencer Dinwiddie tied a career high with 22 points as the Nets were unable to begin 4-0 at home for the first time since 2002-03. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson added 18 for the Nets, who shot 40.6 percent.
Chandler hit 5-of-6 shots in the decisive quarter and gave the Nuggets a 91-69 lead by hitting consecutive 3-pointers in a span of 16 seconds with about 3 1/2 minutes remaining in the quarter
Despite taking control in the third, Denver allowed the Nets to lurk within striking distance.
Brooklyn cut it to 117-105 on two free throws by Dinwiddie with 5:33 left but the Nuggets finished it off on consecutive possessions. Paul Millsap sank a turnaround mid-range jumper over Hollis-Jefferson and Murray converted an open layup off a nifty pass from Jokic with 4:49 to play.
NOTES: Brooklyn Fs DeMarre Carroll (sore right ankle) missed their first game of the season and Quincy Acy (left groin strain). Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said both were injured at some point in Friday's loss at New York and didn't think either would be out long-term. ... Denver G Jamal Murray was 2-for-21 from 3-point range and missed 16 in a row from behind the arc before hitting two 3-pointers Sunday. ... Denver F/C Mason Plumlee went tumbling to the floor with 2:17 remaining in the third when he fouled Nets C Jarrett Allen. Plumlee stayed in the game after the collision.