NBA Roundup: Nikola Jokic’s return pushes Nuggets past Clippers

Nikola Jokic returned from a 16-game absence to produce 31 points and 12 rebounds, leading the host Denver Nuggets past the Los Angeles Clippers 122-109 on Friday night.

Jokic, who had been sidelined since injuring his left knee in Miami on Dec. 29, shot 13 of 17 from the foul line to help Denver win its second straight game. The Nuggets went 10-6 during his absence.

Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 22 points, Peyton Watson contributed 21 and Jamal Murray finished with 20 points for Denver.

The Clippers were led by James Harden, who recorded 25 points and nine assists. Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points as Los Angeles saw its three-game winning streak end.

Lakers 142, Wizards 111

Luka Doncic punctuated his sixth triple-double of the season with 37 points as visiting Los Angeles cruised past Washington.

Doncic showed no ill effects from the injury he suffered falling from Cleveland’s high court on Wednesday, reaching a triple-double by halftime with 26 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds. He finished with 13 assists and 11 rebounds.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic scored 37 points. | Photo credit: AP

Los Angeles’ Deandre Ayton had 28 points and 13 rebounds, while LeBron James had 20 points and six assists. Malaki Branham scored 17 points as the Wizards failed in their attempt to capture their first three-game winning streak of the season.

Celtics 112, Kings 93

Payton Pritchard scored a game-high 29 points and Neemias Queta had 10 points and 15 rebounds to lead Boston to a victory over visiting Sacramento.

Pritchard made 12 of 16 shots from the field, including five of six 3-point attempts. Anfernee Simons and Baylor Scheierman each added 16 points for the Celtics, who were without leading scorer Jaylen Brown (hamstring/knee).

Zach LaVine scored 17 points and Maxime Raynaud had 14 points and 14 rebounds, but the Kings lost their eighth straight game.

Knicks 127, Trail Blazers 97

Karl-Anthony Towns posted 14 points and 20 rebounds for New York, which continued to improve with a wire-to-wire victory over Portland.

Jalen Brunson scored a game-high 26 points for the Knicks, who finished the month with five straight wins after a 2-9 skid that began Dec. 31, 2025. OG Anunoby (24 points) and Josh Hart (20) also contributed to New York’s offense.

Shaedon Sharpe scored 26 points for the Trail Blazers, who completed a three-game winless East Coast road trip as the team lost its fourth straight overall.

Pistons 131, Warriors 124

Cade Cunningham scored 29 points and dished out 11 assists as Detroit held off a fourth-quarter rally to beat Golden State in San Francisco.

Duncan Robinson (55) and Cade Cunningham (2) of the Detroit Pistons react after the former hits a three-pointer against the Golden State Warriors. | Photo credit: Getty Images

Jalen Duren added 21 points and 13 rebounds for the Pistons, who earned their third win in four games. Duncan Robinson scored 15 points on five 3-pointers.

Golden State star Stephen Curry left the game late in the third quarter due to right knee soreness and did not return. He scored a team-high 23 points.

Magic 130, Raptors 120

Desmond Bane scored 16 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter and made a season-high seven 3-pointers to lift host Orlando to a victory over Toronto.

Anthony Black scored 25 points and made all 14 of his free throw attempts for the Magic, who outscored the Raptors 44-21 in the fourth quarter. Wendell Carter Jr. contributed 23 points and seven rebounds.

Brandon Ingram led all scorers with 35 points, while Scottie Barnes had 19 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four blocks, but Toronto’s road winning streak ended at four games.

Suns 126, Horsemen 113

Dillon Brooks scored 17 of his 27 points in Phoenix’s 45-point third quarter as the host Suns took on Cleveland.

Dillon Brooks in action during the second half of the NBA game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. | Photo credit: Getty Images

Jordan Goodwin scored 17 points and made five 3-pointers, while Collin Gillespie added 16 points for the Suns, who won their third straight game. Phoenix made a season-high 23 3-pointers on 48 attempts.

De’Andre Hunter scored 17 points, and Donovan⁠Mitchell and Jaylon Tyson added 16 points each for the Cavaliers, who had won a season-high five straight games. Mitchell committed eight turnovers.

Pelicans 114, Grizzlies 106

Rookie Derik Queen scored 22 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out seven assists as New Orleans turned a dominant third quarter into a victory over Memphis.

Saddiq Bey added 22 points and eight rebounds, and Zion Williamson scored 21 as the Pelicans beat the Grizzlies for the second time in eight days, marking their third victory in four games overall.

Jaren Jackson Jr. and Cam Spencer each scored 16 points for the Grizzlies, who have lost five in a row.

Nets 109, Jazz 99

Egor Demin scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Brooklyn past Utah in Salt Lake City.

Cam Thomas added 21 points to help the Nets end a seven-game losing streak. Day’Ron Sharpe had 16 points and nine rebounds.

Keyonte ⁠George had 26 points and seven assists, while Kyle Filipowski had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Jazz, who lost their fifth straight game and fell to 1-9 in their last 10.

Published on January 31, 2026