Nikola Jokic has 100th triple-double; Nuggets down Rockets 133-112

HOUSTON (AP)— Nikola Jokic recorded his 100th career triple-double and JamalMurray had 32 points as the Denver Nuggets coasted to a 133-112victory over the Houston Rockets on Tuesday night.

Jokic had 14points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his NBA-leading 24thtriple-double this season and his 15th in the last 20 games. TheNuggets have won each game in which he’s had a triple-double thisseason and 28 straight dating back to last season.

Jokic neededjust three quarters to become the sixth player in league historywith 100 triple-doubles, with the big man sitting out the entirefourth with the game out of hand.

The haplessRockets were done in by a balanced scoring attack by the Nuggets, agame after allowing Damian Lillard to score a career-high 71 pointsin a loss to the Trail Blazers on Sunday.

MichaelPorter Jr. added 17 points and Bruce Brown had 15 off the bench tohelp the Nuggets to their second consecutive victory and sixth inthe last seven games.

Jalen Greenhad 17 points in his return after missing two games with a strainedleft groin and rookie Tari Eason also scored 17 as the Rocketsdropped their 10th in a row.

Denver, whichleads the Western Conference, never trailed and dominated Houstonfor most of the night. The Nuggets led by as many as 26 and were up106-84 entering the fourth quarter.

Denver was upby 20 with about nine minutes left when coach Michael Malone tookthe rest of his starters out and cleared the bench.

The Nuggetswere up by 20 at halftime and had stretched the lead to 86-60 withabout 8 ½ minutes left in the third quarter after a 6-0 run, withthe last four points from Porter. The Rockets then went on an 11-5run, powered by seven points from Green, to get within 91-71 midwaythrough the quarter.

Denver gotgoing again after that, using an 8-2 spurt to make it 99-73 acouple of minutes later.

TIP-INS

Nuggets:Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 14 points and six assists. ...AaronGordon scored 11 with five assists and seven rebounds. ...Denvermade 16 3-pointers.

Rockets:Coach Stephen Silas said Kevin Porter Jr. is expected to returnWednesday night after missing 20 games with a bruised toe. … BobanMarjanovic delighted the home crowd when he came in late in thefourth quarter and scored eight points. ...Eason led the team with12 rebounds.

UPNEXT

Nuggets: HostMemphis Friday night.

Rockets: HostMemphis Wednesday night.