Nuggets 121, Raptors 111

Nikola Jokic had 19 points and 11 rebounds in just three quarters to lead the Denver Nuggets past the Toronto Raptors 121-111 on Thursday night.

Michael Porter Jr. scored 23 points for the Nuggets, who had seven players score in double figures and used a 31-8 run over the third and fourth quarters to win their fourth straight. They are a half-game behind the Los Angeles Clippers for third in the Western Conference.

“This is the point you want to be at,” Porter said. “Nine, 10 games until playoffs, so this is the fun. We have to make sure we’re in prime-time shape and ready to go once the playoffs start.”

Denver improved to 8-1 since Jamal Murray went down with a torn ACL in his left knee on April 12. The Nuggets also lost guards Monte Morris and Will Barton to hamstring injuries, but both are expected to return this season.

Without its starting backcourt, Denver has relied on reserves Facu Campazzo, P.J. Dozier and Shaquille Harrison, a two-way player getting a chance to make an impact. He did Thursday with a season-high 11 points, and Campazzo followed up his first double-double on Wednesday night with 12 points.

Jokic’s double-double was his 53rd of the season.

OG Anunoby scored 25 points for the Raptors, Kyle Lowry and Khem Birch had 20 each, and Malachi Flynn, who started in place of injured Fred VanVleet (hip), pitched in with 16.

The Nuggets led by six in the second quarter and again late in the third, but Toronto rallied both times to tie it. It was 87-85 after three quarters. Denver scored the first 12 points of the fourth against the Raptors’ bench and held them to just a pair of 3-pointers by Lowry in the first 5:40 of the fourth.

“It turned the tide of the game, got them feeling pretty good and they didn’t stop pretty much until the end,” Toronto coach Nick Nurse said. “It was not a good lineup. They didn’t get any stops and didn’t get any scores.”

Lowry’s flagrant foul on P.J. Dozier led to a six-point possession for Denver and a 21-point lead. Denver held the Raptors two just two made field goals in the first 7:28 of the fourth.

“For me, being a defensive-minded coach, that was some of the best basketball I’ve seen that group play,” Denver coach Michael Malone said.

VanVleet is getting an extra couple of days of rest for his hip, Nurse said. VanVleet said after Tuesday’s loss to Brooklyn that he didn’t feel great.

Jokic has played every game this season, so Malone was happy to sit him for the entire fourth quarter.

“He’s a tough cookie. He doesn’t want to take a night off,” Malone said. “He takes tremendous pride in his Serbian heritage. As he always says, Serbian guys don’t sit out, which I respect the hell out of, but you have to be smart about it.”

Lowry played his 600th game with Toronto and Malone got the 300th win of his career and 261st with Denver. The Nuggets players doused Malone with water in the locker room after the game.

Lowry has played 958 games with Memphis, Houston and Toronto.

“It’s been an amazing time, it’s been fun,” he said. “Ups and downs, but you enjoy the moment of being able to play basketball.”

Rockets 143, Bucks 136

Kevin Porter Jr. scored a career-high 50 points, and NBA-worst Houston beat Milwaukee after Giannis Antetokounmpo left less than a minute into the game with a sprained ankle.

Houston snapped a five-game losing streak on the back of a dazzling performance from Porter, who scored 32 points in the second half and 17 in the fourth quarter. His previous career best was 30 points as a rookie with Cleveland last season.

Antetokounmpo played just 46 seconds. On a driving layup, he appeared to step on the foot of Kelly Olynyk, rolling what was already an injured ankle. He limped to the locker room and spent a few minutes there before returning to the bench, where he sat for the rest of the game.

Porter also had 11 assists. Christian Wood had 31 points and nine rebounds, and Kelly Olynyk added 24 points and 13 rebounds.

Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton had 33 points and eight assists, and Jrue Holiday had 29 points and 10 assists. Bryn Forbes scored a career-high 30 points off the bench, including 18 in the first half.

Timberwolves 126, Warriors 114

Ricky Rubio scored 26 points and rookie Anthony Edwards added 25 as the Minnesota beat Golden State.

Minnesota extended its season-long winning streak to four games. Edwards scored 18 of his points in the fourth quarter.

Stephen Curry overcame early shooting struggles to finish with 37 points for Golden State. Andrew Wiggins added 27 points in his first game in Minnesota since he was traded by the Timberwolves last season.

Karl-Anthony Towns scored 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Wolves.

Mavericks 115, Pistons 105

Tim Hardaway Jr. scored a career-high 42 points, helping Dallas beat Detroit.

Trey Burke added 15 points for Dallas, which moved a game ahead of Portland for the No. 6 spot in the Western Conference. The Mavericks' Luka Doncic missed the game because of a left elbow issue, and the Pistons were without their leading scorer as well in Jerami Grant.

Isaiah Stewart and Frank Jackson scored 20 points apiece for the Pistons.

Dallas has won five of six.

Pelicans 109, Thunder 95

Zion Williamson scored 27 points and New Orleans beat Oklahoma City.

Williamson also had eight rebounds and six assists. Brandon Ingram added 24 points for New Orleans, which won for the third time in nine games.

Lu Dort scored 17 points, Theo Maledon added 16 and Moses Brown grabbed 18 rebounds for the Thunder.