Jamal Murray scored a career-high 55 points, Nikola Jokic had his 25th triple-double of the season and the Denver Nuggets beat the Portland Trail Blazers 132-121 on Wednesday night for their eighth straight victory.
Murray was 20 of 36 from the field, including 9 of 17 from 3-point range, and 6 of 8 from the free throw line. His previous career high was 51 points. Jokic had 22 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for Denver, which has won 11 of its last 12 games.
The Nuggets have been one of the top teams in the Western Conference all season and are currently sitting in second place behind the Los Angeles Lakers. With Murray and Jokic leading the way, they are looking like a serious contender to make a deep run in the playoffs.
Murray's big night was just what the Nuggets needed as they were facing a tough opponent in the Trail Blazers. Portland has been struggling this season, but they have a talented roster and are always a tough opponent. The Nuggets were able to pull away in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Trail Blazers 30-23.
For the Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard had 36 points and 8 assists, while CJ McCollum added 27 points. Hassan Whiteside had 17 points and 19 rebounds for Portland, which has lost 5 of its last 6 games.
The Nuggets and Trail Blazers will meet again on Friday night in Portland. The Nuggets will be looking to extend their winning streak to 9 games, while the Trail Blazers will be looking to get back on track and start a winning streak of their own.
The win for the Nuggets was their 8th in a row, which is their longest winning streak of the season. They have been playing some of their best basketball of the year and are looking like a serious contender to make a deep run in the playoffs.
With Murray and Jokic leading the way, the Nuggets have a talented young core that is exciting to watch. They have a deep bench and a strong team defense, which has been key to their success this season.
The Nuggets will be looking to continue their winning ways as they head into the final stretch of the season. They have a tough schedule ahead of them, but they are confident in their abilities and are looking to make a deep run in the playoffs.