NBA ROUND-UP: Nikola Jokic records a triple-double in the Denver Nuggets’ win over Celtics

Nikola Jokic had 30 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists, and the hot-shooting Denver Nuggets beat the Boston Celtics 123-111 on Sunday night in a matchup of NBA conference leaders that was delayed for about 35 minutes because a powerful dunk bent one of the rims. You should keep up with the Denver Nuggets odds to see what they are doing.

Jokic hit 10 of 13 shots from the field and all eight free throws in his second straight triple-double and ninth of the season. Bruce Brown added 21 points for the Nuggets, who shot 57 percent from the floor and made 17 of 30 3-pointers.

Denver won for the 10th time in 12 games, snapped a six-game skid against Boston and opened a one-game lead in the Western Conference.

Nikola Jokic had a triple-double as the Denver Nuggets beat the Boston Celtics 123-111

The Nuggets led by as many as 18 and waited out a long delay with 6:43 left as a crew struggled to re-level the rim after a dunk by Boston’s Robert Williams III. It took six workers, two ladders, a level, phone calls and eventually a crew member taking the rim off the backboard before it was fixed.

Players were allowed a brief warmup before play resumed, and the Nuggets pulled away.

Jaylen Brown scored 30 points and Jayson Tatum shook off a slow start to add 25 for Boston, which shot just 9 of 33 from 3-point range in the opener of a four-game trip. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for the Celtics, whose lead in the East was sliced to 1 1/2 games.

Nuggets coach Michael Malone called the matchup a “hell of a challenge” and that was before Denver announced Jamal Murray was out again. The point guard has missed two of the past three games due to issues with his surgically repaired left knee.

Jokic (15) prepares to shoot the ball over Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams (12)

Bruce Brown started in his place and went 4 of 6 on 3s. It was a familiar theme for the Nuggets, who entered as the NBA’s top 3-point shooting team. They are 34 of 58 from long distance over the past two games.

The game was billed as a matchup of top NBA MVP contenders Jokic and Tatum. And the crowd took notice.

A large number of Celtics fans started chanting “MVP! MVP!” when Tatum went to the foul line late in the second quarter. Nuggets fans loudly returned the favor moments later with their own MVP chant for Jokic when he went to the line.

In the end, Jokic showed it’ll be tough to wrestle the trophy from him.

Jokic collects a loose ball in the second half against the Boston Celtics in Denver

GRIZZLIES 118, KINGS 108 

Ja Morant scored 35 points, Tyus Jones added 18 and the Memphis Grizzlies broke open a close game in the fourth quarter to beat the Sacramento Kings 118-108 on Sunday night.

Dillon Brooks added 15 for Memphis, while Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with 14 and three blocks as the Grizzlies won their third straight. Morant added eight rebounds and five assists. Jones had eight assists and Steven Adams tied his career-high with 23 rebounds.

De’Aaron Fox led the Kings with 19 points, while Malik Monk scored 18 providing a spark off the Sacramento bench. Domantas Sabonis matched Monk’s 18 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.

In a closely played first half, the Kings starters suffered from poor shooting. Only Sabonis had a good percentage with 14 points hitting 6 of 10. But Monk brought energy from the bench with 12 points.

Morant led the Grizzlies with 18 points enroute to a 59-58 advantage at the break.

Ja Morant goes to the basket during the second half against Malik Monk (0) of the Kings

WIZARDS 118, BUCKS 95

Rui Hachimura had 26 points, Kristaps Porzingis scored 22 and Kyle Kuzma had a triple double as the Washington Wizards defeated the short-handed Milwaukee Bucks 118-95 on Sunday night for their season-best fifth consecutive victory.

The scuffling Bucks played without Giannis Antetokounmpo, who sat out due to left knee soreness. Antetokounmpo is averaging 38 points and 14.6 rebounds over his last six games, which included a 43-point, 20-rebound performance in Friday night´s win over Minnesota that snapped Milwaukee´s four-game losing streak.

Jrue Holiday also missed the game with an illness, and Khris Middleton sat out for the eighth consecutive game due to right knee soreness.

Bobby Portis led Milwaukee with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Jevon Carter had 14 points and Grayson Allen added 13 points and eight assists.

Washington Wizards’ Kyle Kuzma (33) drives to the basket against Milwaukee’s Brook Lopez