FILE – Michael Porter Jr. #1 of the Denver Nuggets puts up a shot against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first quarter at Ball Arena on February 14, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by MATTHEW STOCKMAN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Michael Porter Jr. established career bests of 39 points and eight 3-pointers to help the Denver Nuggets cruise to a 129-116 victory over the visiting Houston Rockets on Saturday night.
MPJ pours in a career-high 39 PTS (8 3PM) for the @nuggets! #MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/Vf6xJsEWvl
— NBA (@NBA) April 25, 2021
Nikola Jokic recorded 24 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds as Denver (39-21) won for the 13th time in their past 16 games. PJ Dozier scored a career-best 23 points on 10-of-13 shooting and JaMychal Green had 10 points for the Nuggets.
Joker (12 AST) and Facu (career-high 13 AST) combine for 25 dimes in the @nuggets W! pic.twitter.com/yne6nGDtb5
— NBA (@NBA) April 25, 2021
D.J. Wilson scored a career-best 25 points for Houston, which lost for the ninth time in the past 10 games and 36th in the last 40.
Kelly Olynyk registered 21 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds, and Anthony Lamb scored a career-best 21 points for the Rockets.
Porter has made 15 3-pointers in the past two nights. He hit a then-career-high seven in Friday’s loss to the Golden State Warriors.
Houston used just seven players in its latest loss. John Wall was held out for rest and Christian Wood (ankle) sat out.
Kenyon Martin Jr. scored 18 points, Jae’Sean Tate added 14 and Armoni Brooks had 12 for the Rockets, who shot 50 percent from the field and 15 of 40 from 3-point range.
Denver played without Will Barton (hamstring), who was injured Friday night and is out indefinitely. Barton joins Jamal Murray (season-ending ACL) and Monte Morris (hamstring) as recent key injury losses.
Facundo Campazzo had a career-best 13 assists for the Nuggets, who led by as many as 26 points and shot 59.5 percent from the field. Denver made 16 of 37 from 3-point range.
Porter knocked down his eighth 3-pointer with 4:14 left. He was fouled on the play and completed a four-point play to give Denver a 123-100 advantage.
Porter exited with 3:32 remaining despite being close to his first 40-point outing.
Porter had 20 first-half points and Denver shot 65.2 percent from the field while taking a 72-50 halftime lead.
Jokic tallied 16 first-quarter points as the Nuggets held a 36-26 advantage. Denver opened up a big lead in the second quarter to assume control.
Porter scored 10 points in the third quarter as the Nuggets led 102-82 entering the final stanza.