Jamal Murray delivered late once again, scoring nine of his 27 points in the final 2:26 as the Denver Nuggets held off the Brooklyn Nets 107-103 on Thursday night, spoiling Michael Porter Jr.’s return to Ball Arena.
Porter, facing his former team for the first time, poured in a season-high 38 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for Brooklyn, but the Nets dropped their seventh straight game. Drafted 14th overall by Denver in 2018, Porter spent six seasons with the Nuggets and was a key piece of their 2023 championship before being dealt to Brooklyn in the offseason. He was honored with a video tribute at the first timeout and received a standing ovation from the crowd.
Tim Hardaway Jr. knocked down a season-high seven 3-pointers and finished with 25 points for Denver, while Peyton Watson added 19 as the Nuggets snapped a three-game home losing streak.
Denver played shorthanded, missing four starters, and Brooklyn was without Ziaire Williams, who sat out with a left calf contusion sustained in a scuffle during Tuesday’s loss at Phoenix.
The Nets erased a 15-point halftime deficit in the third quarter and trailed just 79-76 entering the fourth. After Denver stretched the margin to 87-79, Porter’s steal and layup tied the game at 90 midway through the period. Nolan Traore’s layup moments later gave Brooklyn its first lead since early in the night.
Murray took over from there, hitting a turnaround jumper, converting a three-point play and sinking two free throws down the stretch. Brooklyn made one final push when Terance Mann hit all three free throws after being fouled on a 3-pointer with 4.4 seconds left, but Jonas Valanciunas answered with two free throws to seal it.
Up next:
Nets: At Utah on Friday night.
Nuggets: Host the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night.
