The Denver Nuggets handed the struggling Brooklyn Nets their eighth straight defeat after reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic seized the initiative with a season-best 14th triple-double in the 124-104 win Sunday.
Jokic's match-winning performance featured 27 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.
The 26-year-old center also sparked a defensive effort from the Nuggets that kept the Nets to a season-low 29 second-half points as Brooklyn's road losing streak continued.
"In the second half, we knew we had to step up on defense because that is how we would win the game," Jokic said.
The Nuggets led 76-75 at halftime then dominated from there, with the Serbian hitting 12-of-15 from the floor while adding two steals and a blocked shot.
"We took it upon ourselves to go out there and get the job done," Denver's Will Barton said. "We know if we want to make a deep playoff run, it starts on the defensive end."
Jokic said the triple-doubles come naturally in the flow of the games.
"I'm just trying to play a game," Jokic said. "When I pass, I pass to the right guy to make a basketball play. It doesn't matter if I get 15, 20 shots. I share the ball and when bodies are moving we're hard to guard and tonight was a night like that."
Barton contributed 21 points, six rebounds and four assists as the Nuggets, sixth in the Western Conference at 29-24, snapped a three-game losing skid.
"Any time you can get a win on your home court, especially after a losing streak, it's a big deal," Barton said.
"For us to be where we're at, we'll take it, but we're not satisfied. We just have to stay consistent and we'll be fine."
Nets struggles continue
The Nuggets have struggled with injuries to standouts Michael Porter and Jamal Murray, but Barton said Jokic has helped pick up the slack.
"With two of our main guys down, he's keeping us afloat and still doing great numbers," Barton said of Jokic.
"He's the best player in the league right now. He can do it all, pass it, score it in the post, shoot threes. And I think he has stepped it up defensively this year and also being a vocal leader for us."
The Nets, who fell to 29-24, were led by 27 points from Kyrie Irving, who cannot play in home games under New York's coronavirus rules because he is unvaccinated.
Brooklyn has also been hampered by injuries to stars Kevin Durant and James Harden.
Nets coach Steve Nash said the team is not intending to trade Harden as rumors swirled – ahead of Thursday's NBA deadline – that Brooklyn might send him to Philadelphia in exchange for unhappy Australian guard Ben Simmons, who has not played all season.
"I've talked to James," Nash said. "James wants to be here. He wants to be here long-term as well... we think we have the best chance to win with James."
Embiid nets 40 in win
Joel Embiid scored 40 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to power the Philadelphia 76ers over the host Chicago Bulls 119-108. It was the seventh time this season Embiid had reached the 40-point mark.
DeMar DeRozan scored a game-high 45 points in a losing cause for the Bulls, who were without Zach LaVine for a second straight game due to back tightness.
The Bulls fell to 33-20, just behind Miami (34-20) for the best record in the Eastern Conference while the Sixers improved to 32-21 for fourth.
As a result of Chicago's loss, Miami coach Erik Spoelstra was named the coach of Team Durant in the NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 20 in Cleveland.
His squad will face a team captained by former Cleveland star LeBron James and coached by Monty Williams of the Phoenix Suns.
Minnesota had 24 points and 12 rebounds from Karl-Anthony Towns, 22 points from D'Angelo Russell and 20 off the bench from Malik Beasley in a 118-105 victory over visiting Detroit.
In the late game, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a team-high 28 points to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 137-113 rout of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Antetokounmpo also grabbed 10 rebounds and shot eight-of-15 from the field for the Bucks, who made 50 percent of their three-point attempts (19-of-38).
Jrue Holiday finished with 27 points and 13 assists while Pat Connaughton chipped in 18 points and made six-of-nine threes.