Nikola Jokic returns from injuries, helps Nuggets put away Bucks

Nikola Jokic racked up 39 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in his return to the lineup, Michael Porter Jr. had 23 points and 10 rebounds, and the host Denver Nuggets beat the short-handed Milwaukee Bucks 127-117 on Wednesday night.

Christian Braun added 19 points and 10 rebounds, Jamal Murray scored 17 points and Peyton Watson finished with 12 for Denver (46-28), which snapped a two-game home losing streak.

Jokic, who missed the previous five games with a left ankle impingement and a sore right elbow, notched his 30th triple-double of the season and 160th of his career.

Milwaukee (40-32) was without Giannis Antetokounmpo (left foot sprain) and Damian Lillard, who will miss time with a deep vein thrombosis.

Brook Lopez led the Bucks with 26 points, Ryan Rollins added 17, Gary Trent Jr. 16 points, Taurean Prince and AJ Green 15 each, Kevin Porter Jr. 12 points and Kyle Kuzma 10.

The Nuggets opened a 10-point lead with 8:11, left but Pat Connaughton made two straight buckets and Green drained a 3-pointer to make it 106-103.

Murray hit a layup, fed Watson for a dunk and hit a layup to stretch the lead to 112-105 with 5:36 remaining.

Rollins and Lopez made layups and Rollins hit a 3-pointer to cut it to 118-115, but Watson dunked off a touch pass from Jokic, Michael Porter Jr. drained a 3-pointer and Murray hit a layup, and Denver held on.

The Nuggets led by 15 in the first quarter but Milwaukee closed to within 67-64 at halftime. Denver increased its lead to 80-74 in the third quarter, but the Bucks used a 14-3 run to go ahead 88-83 late in the period.

Denver closed strong, however. Braun hit a layup, Jokic made a corner 3-pointer and Braun had a steal and layup to put Denver ahead 90-88.

After Kuzma split a pair of free throws, Jalen Pickett and Braun drained 3-pointers, Jokic made a 10-foot floater and Braun capped a 15-4 run with a putback dunk to give the Nuggets a 100-92 lead heading into the fourth.

--Field Level Media