Nuggets stay perfect on road trip with win over Hornets

Michael Porter Jr. scored 22 points and Jamal Murray posted 20 points as the Denver Nuggets cranked out a couple of key second-half stretches to keep their hot streak going by defeating the host Charlotte Hornets 102-95 on Saturday night.

Nikola Jokic provided 18 points, including a few late-game clutch plays, 10 rebounds and nine assists and Aaron Gordon had 14 points. Murray had 12 rebounds.

Denver, which held the Hornets to one point in the final 3:20, went 3-0 on a road trip in advance of a Christmas Day showdown with the Golden State Warriors. The Nuggets have won seven of their last eight games.

Christian Braun's 11 points and Julian Strawther's 10 points were key bench contributions for the Nuggets, who withstood 43.3-percent shooting from the field to win another road game. Porter was key from the perimeter by going 5-for-8 on 3-pointers, in part making up for the team's limited chances at the free-throw line (12-for-14).

The Hornets lost their seventh game in a row despite 22 points from Miles Bridges, 20 points from PJ Washington and 19 points from Nick Smith Jr. Charlotte, playing without guard Terry Rozier, who was a game-time decision based on a sore knee, was 8-for-28 on 3-pointers. Rozier took part in some warm-ups.

Nick Richards provided 12 points and 15 rebounds for the injury-ravaged Hornets, who were charged with 17 turnovers.

The Nuggets outscored Charlotte 30-9 in the third quarter to wipe out a halftime hole.

The Hornets were down 91-76 early in the fourth quarter before making a big move. Smith's 3-pointer pulled them within 97-94 with 3:24 left.

Charlotte had two possessions to make it closer or pull even before Jokic scored in the lane. Jokic added two free throws for a 101-94 advantage with 1:08 remaining.

The Hornets led 60-54 at halftime behind 16 points from Washington and 14 from Bridges. Charlotte held the upper hand despite 2-for-10 shooting on 3s.

—Field Level Media