NBA: Nikola Jokic's late hoop lifts Nuggets past Suns

Nikola Jokic scored 23 points in his second consecutive triple-double, including a jumper with 11.5 seconds remaining that broke a tie and gave the Denver Nuggets a 125-123 victory over the host Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.

Jokic added 17 rebounds and tied a season high with 17 assists for his 29th triple-double of the season. He reached the milestone 11 seconds into the second half when his 10th assist set up Aaron Gordon's dunk.

Jamal Murray contributed 21 points, scoring 11 in the fourth quarter, as the Nuggets (45-28) extended their winning streak to three games.

For the Suns (40-33), Devin Booker had 22 points and eight assists, while Jalen Green and Grayson Allen scored 21 points each. Phoenix has now lost six of their last seven games.

Cameron Johnson’s 3-pointer with 16.2 seconds left in the third gave Denver a 97-95 lead, and the final period featured six ties and four lead changes. Booker made two free throws with 1:21 remaining, and Green’s layup tied the game at 121 after Jokic missed a short jumper. Murray and Booker traded jumpers before Jokic hit his game-winning shot. Booker's deep 3-point attempt at the buzzer hit the rim and did not fall.

Tim Hardaway added 18 points, Gordon had 16, and Johnson finished with 14 for the balanced Nuggets, who have won six of their last eight games.

Denver pulled a half-game ahead of the idle Minnesota Timberwolves for fourth place in the Western Conference. The top four teams receive home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Nuggets also completed a season sweep of the Suns.

Allen and Royce O'Neale each made five 3-pointers for Phoenix. O'Neale returned after missing the previous three games with a knee injury, and Allen returned after missing four games with a knee issue.

Denver dominated the boards with a 50-41 rebounding advantage and converted 14 offensive rebounds into 15 second-chance points. Jokic finished the first quarter with eight points, eight rebounds, and five assists. Playing in his 802nd career game, he tied Dan Issel for second in franchise history behind Alex English (837).

The Nuggets closed the second quarter on a 22-8 run and outscored the Suns 39-22 to take a 67-57 lead into halftime. Jokic had 15 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists at the break.

-Field Level Media/Reuters