DENVER (AP) — Replacement Jeff Green scored a season-high 24 points, Nikola Jokic had 21 triple-doubles and the West-leading Denver Nuggets are heading to the All-Star break after a victory by 119-108 against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday.
Nikola Jokic finished with 14 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for the Nuggets, who have the league’s best home record at 27-4. Michael Porter Jr. made five 3-pointers and finished with 22 points.
Luka Doncic had 37 points leading a battered Dallas team that was without Kyrie Irving with a lower back strain. Doncic and Irving have played together a few times since the latter was acquired in a trade from Brooklyn on Feb. 6.
The Nuggets led by 21 points in the fourth quarter, only to see the Mavericks draw within 105-95 with 5:50 left on Christian Wood’s layup. Shortly after, Porter blocked a shot on one end, ran back and hit a 3-pointer on the other end to catch his breath.
The teams split their series into four series games over the season.
Jokic joined a tight group by surpassing 500 assists and 500 rebounds before the all-star break.