NBA Notes: Nuggets, Nikola Jokic, Knicks, Jalen Brunson, Hornets

Nuggets

Another night, another triple-double for Nikola Jokic.

Jokic finished with 16 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds — his 25th triple-double of the season — as the Nuggets rolled past the visiting Rockets, 129-93.

It was Jokic’s 187th career triple-double and the 15th time this season he’s reached the mark before the fourth quarter.

Meanwhile, Jamal Murray led Denver in scoring with 30 points. The win also gave the Nuggets the season series over Houston, three games to one, and moved them within a half-game of the Rockets in the Western standings.

It also marked the first time since mid-November that Denver won with its opening-night lineup together, as coach David Adelman continues managing workloads coming out of the All-Star break.

Knicks

The found themselves in a hole early. Then came the rally.

Jalen Brunson scored 28 points and added eight assists as New York stormed back to beat the host Jazz, 134-117.

The Knicks trailed 49-31 early before flipping the script.

Jordan Clarkson added 27 points, while OG Anunoby scored 22. Karl-Anthony Towns chipped in 21 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

Brunson’s three-point play with 1.6 seconds left in the third gave New York the lead for good. From there, the Knicks pushed the advantage to as many as 22.

Hornets

LaMelo Ball set the tone early and the Hornets did the rest.

Ball scored 30 points, including 20 in the first half, as Charlotte beat the host Kings, 117-109.

Miles Bridges added 26 points, rookie Kon Knueppel scored 24 and Brandon Miller finished with 20.

For Sacramento, DeMar DeRozan poured in 39 points and passed Tim Duncan for 18th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with 26,505.

Charlotte seized control in the third quarter and never really gave it back.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)