The Denver Nuggets held off the exhausted Charlotte Hornets 129-115 on Thursday night, extending their winning run to nine games. Jamal Murray scored 34 points, while Nikola Jokic fell one assist short of his 26th triple-double of the season.

Jokic had nine assists, 17 rebounds, and 29 points in the end. He hit six of his career-high 14 3-point attempts. When Murray exploded for 55 points prior to the All-Star break, he immediately picked up where he left off. Murray made seven 3-pointers and went 12 of 18 from the field against Charlotte. It took a late surge for the Nuggets, a 17 1/2-point favourite, to defeat the Hornets. The Nuggets moved into second place in the Western Conference after the victory and Memphis' defeat. For a Hornets squad without Mark Williams and LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges recorded a season-high 36 points and 13 rebounds.