NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Nikola Jokic (NEE'-koh-lah YOH'-kihch) registered his eighth triple-double of the season by furnishing 20 points, 13 rebound and 10 assists in the Denver Nuggets' 105-99 triumph over the Pelicans at New Orleans. Malik Beasley scored 22 points, and Monte Morris added 20 to help the Northwest Division leaders win their fourth straight. Denver trailed by three before opening the third quarter with a 10-0 run to go ahead to stay.
BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown delivered 24 points and 10 rebounds in the Boston Celtics' seventh win in eight games, a 126-94 rout of the Charlotte Hornets. Jayson Tatum added 20 points and helped Boston close the third period on a 25-6 run to take a 98-75 lead. Terry Rozier had 17 points and tied a career high with 10 assists in place of Kyrie Irving, who missed his second straight game with a left hip strain.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Portland Trail Blazers' starting backcourt combined for 66 points in a 132-105 blowout over the Utah Jazz. Damian Lillard contributed 36 points and 11 assists for the Blazers, who scored 17 straight in the third quarter to go ahead by 27. CJ McCollum finished with 30 points for Portland, while Donovan Mitchell had 22 to lead the Jazz.
UNDATED (AP) — Markus Howard scored 32 points and Sam Hauser added 19 as the 10th-ranked Marquette Golden Eagles dumped Butler, 76-58 at Indianapolis. Nickeil Alexander-Walker tied a season high with 25 points and No. 12 Virginia Tech improved to 17-3 by shooting 59 percent to beat Miami 82-70. Number-14 Villanova has a nine-game winning streak after Eric Paschall (PAS'-kul) scored 20 points and Phil Booth added 19 and eight assists in an 86-74 verdict over DePaul.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Kris Letang (leh-TANG') tied a team record and Evgeni Malkin reached a milestone as the Pittsburgh Penguins doubled up Tampa Bay, 4-2. Letang notched his 109th goal as a Penguin to tie Hall of Famer Paul Coffey's franchise record for career goals by a defenseman. Malkin set up two scores to become the fifth Russian-born player in league history to reach 600 career assists.
