DENVER – Bones Hyland scored 24 points, Nikola Jokic added 21 and the Denver Nuggets shot over 60% from the field in a 126-101 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night.
Michael Porter Jr. added 15 points and Jamal Murray chipped in 13 for the Nuggets, who shot 53 of 87 (60.9%) and remained unbeaten in four games at home this season.
Keldon John scored 25 points and Devin Vassell 20 for the Spurs, who lost their third in a row.
Ahead by 19 points at the break, the Nuggets outscored the Spurs 29-25 in the third quarter, leaning on a 12-0 burst midway through the period for a 99-76 advantage heading into the final quarter. Porter capped the flurry by hitting a 3-pointer and a layup in succession, both off feeds from Jokic, who finished with 10 assists.
The Nuggets remained hot through the fourth quarter, buoyed by Hyland, who scored 17 of his points in the second half, including five of his six 3-pointers.
Making two thirds of their shots in the first half, the Nuggets took a 70-51 lead and led by as many as 23 points. They led by as many as 31 points in the second half. The Spurs piled up the points with their fast break, outscoring San Antonio 26-8.
TIP-INS
Spurs: G Wesley Blake, who sustained a torn left medial collateral ligament Sunday against Minnesota, is expected to be sidelined six to eight weeks. … The Spurs came into the game allowing an average of 120.7 points per game, second most in the NBA.
Nuggets: F Zeke Nnaji was ruled out after suffering a right ankle sprain Thursday at Oklahoma City. … G Ish Smith remained sidelined with a right calf strain. … Denver’s 70-point first half was a point shy of their season high achieved in Thursday’s win at Oklahoma City. … Denver also made 15 of its 29 3-point attempts (51.7%) compared to 40% for the Spurs (12 of 30).
UP NEXT
Spurs: Complete home-and-home set with Nuggets on Monday night at San Antonio.
Nuggets: Open a four-game road trip by visiting San Antonio on Monday night.
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