Nikola Jokic totaled 40 points, nine rebounds and eight assists on Friday, helping the visiting Denver Nuggets rally for a 134-133 win over the Atlanta Hawks.
Jamal Murray added 23 points and 12 assists for Denver, which trailed by as many as 23 en route to its ninth straight road win. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 17 and Cameron Johnson had 16 in the victory.
Atlanta’s Jalen Johnson became the fifth player in the play-by-play era (since 1997-98) to record a first-half triple-double. After having 11 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists before the break, he finished with 21, 18 and 16, respectively.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 30 points while Kristaps Porzingis contributed 25 as the Hawks dropped their third straight game.
After trailing by 19 at halftime, Denver began the third quarter on a 19-4 run, cutting its deficit to four on Johnson’s dunk.
Atlanta finished the third on a 16-8 surge, including Vit Krejci’s fifth 3-pointer that gave the Hawks a 103-94 edge entering the final quarter.
Still trailing by nine, Denver went on a 20-0 run — including a pair of Johnson triples — to take a 117-106 advantage with 6:53 left.
Johnson’s consecutive baskets pulled Atlanta within three with 1:59 left before Jokic’s layup was answered with Alexander-Walker’s 3-pointer as the Nuggets’ lead was reduced to 129-127 with 1:31 to go.
Jokic and Johnson then traded baskets before Porzingis’ turnover led to two Jokic free throws with 17.4 seconds remaining, giving Denver a 133-129 lead.
Alexander-Walker halved the deficit with two foul shots before Jokic split a pair of free throws with 15.6 seconds left for a three-point lead.
Alexander-Walker then had his 3-point attempt blocked by Murray, and he settled for a layup with 2.2 seconds remaining. Denver inbounded the ball and ran out the clock.
Atlanta jumped out to a 23-13 lead on Alexander-Walker’s triple midway through the first quarter. The Hawks shot 76.2% (16-for-21) from the field and made eight 3-pointers in the opening period, taking a 41-23 lead into the second.
The edge ballooned to 63-40 on Johnson’s dunk with 3:53 left in the first half.
After Porzingis’ dunk extended the lead to 71-48, Peyton Watson’s trey and Jokic’s foul shots pulled the visitors within 18. Atlanta led 73-54 at halftime.
