Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray carried Denver out of a 23-point hole Saturday, combining for 77 points as the Nuggets beat the Pelicans 141-135 in overtime and avoided an 0-2 start. Murray poured in 42, while Jokić posted 35 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists for career triple-double No. 199.
From the locker room
Denver trailed by 23 with five minutes left in the third quarter, a spot that threatened to give the Nuggets only their third 0-2 opening of the Jokić-Murray partnership. Instead, the familiar two-man engine took over. Denver is now 5-0 when the pair combines for at least 75 points.
Jokić has moved within 10 triple-doubles of Russell Westbrook and sits 11 from the all-time record. In the extra period, Jokić scored eight points and rookie Trevon Brazile supplied seven of his 17, accounting for all 15 Denver points in overtime.
Philadelphia stayed unbeaten with a 127-116 win over Milwaukee, moving to 3-0 behind a three-star scoring load. Joel Embiid finished with 28 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, Jaylen Brown scored 27 on his 30th birthday, and Tyrese Maxey added 26. It marked the first game this season with three teammates reaching 25 points apiece.
VJ Edgecombe added 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Sixers, while Kyle Kuzma had 14 points and 12 boards, punctuated by a one-handed dunk over Adem Bona. Maxey also beat the first-quarter horn from half court. Philadelphia was without LeBron James.
Phoenix got 43 points from Devin Booker in a 131-122 victory over Golden State. Booker needed 25 field-goal attempts and added seven rebounds and seven assists. The Warriors played without Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Al Horford. Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg continued his upward scoring run with 26 points, nine rebounds, five assists and six 3-pointers, increasing his output for a third consecutive game.
Victor Wembanyama led San Antonio to its first win, a 122-106 decision over Dallas. Wembanyama recorded 23 points, seven rebounds and four blocks, and his plus-32 was the Spurs’ best mark. Mavericks rookie Sergio de Larrea, the No. 25 selection, countered with 21 points, five rebounds and four assists.
Chicago rookie makes history in a loss
Caleb Wilson’s first NBA double-double was not enough for Chicago in a 124-120 loss to Washington. Wilson put up 30 points and 14 rebounds, but the Wizards seized control with a 40-20 third quarter and then survived the Bulls’ late push.
Wilson has 67 points through three career games, second in Bulls franchise history behind Michael Jordan’s 74. At 20 years and 98 days, Wilson also became Chicago’s second-youngest player to produce at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in a game. Luol Deng was younger when he had 30 points and 11 boards against Dallas on Feb. 8, 2005, at 19 years and 298 days old.
Trae Young paced Washington with 25 points and nine assists. Bilal Coulibaly delivered an aggressive dunk graded at 118.7, the top dunk score of the young season.
Houston handed Atlanta its first loss, 121-114, as Kevin Durant scored 22 and seven Rockets reached double figures. Jalen Johnson did everything he could to keep the Hawks within range, finishing with 26 points, nine rebounds and 16 assists.
Charlotte beat Miami 115-110 after the Heat stormed back from 23 down. Miami opened the fourth quarter on a 25-4 surge and tied the game with 3:45 remaining, but Grayson Allen scored seven points the rest of the way to close it. Brandon Miller supplied 34 points, eight rebounds and four assists shortly after signing his five-year extension.
Cleveland held off Brooklyn 125-121 with a 16-point advantage in paint scoring. Jarrett Allen had 21 points and eight rebounds, and Evan Mobley added 20 points, 10 rebounds, two steals and three blocks. Nets guard Egor Dëmin scored 15 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter and finished with six assists and a team-best plus-7.
Minnesota’s new guard pairing
Minnesota has opened the season with consecutive wins of more than 20 points for the first time in franchise history, with Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball quickly finding a rhythm in the backcourt. Their early connection has featured fast decisions after offensive rebounds, drive-and-kick reads and off-ball relocations that have created clean 3-point looks for both guards.
The Timberwolves enter Sunday sixth in offensive rating at 119.4 and seventh in scoring at 123.0 points per game. Edwards’ downhill attacks have drawn help defenders and freed Ball on the perimeter, while Ball’s penetration has created similar space for Edwards.
Rookies on the rise
Memphis rookie Cameron Boozer became the third-youngest player in NBA history to compile at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a game, joining LeBron James and Cooper Flagg. The 19-year-old capped that performance with a game-winning jumper as the Grizzlies rallied past Golden State.
Memphis coach Tuomas Iisalo marveled at Boozer’s poise after the comeback.
“He’s 19 years old,” Iisalo said. “And he is making major plays at both ends of the floor.”
Sacramento’s Darius Acuff Jr. is also 19 and coming off a record night. The rookie point guard scored 33 points against Portland, the most ever by a teenager in a Kings game, while adding four assists. Domantas Sabonis praised Acuff’s command of the position.
“He is extremely smart,” Sabonis said. “He has a high basketball IQ at point guard. He can pass, he can shoot and he understands how to control the pace.”
Durant remains a reference point for Wembanyama
Durant’s 22-point performance for Houston came one night after the veteran Rockets forward faced Wembanyama and San Antonio. Wembanyama grew up in France watching Durant, seeing a model in another tall, slender scorer with perimeter skill.
After France fell to the United States in the gold-medal game at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Wembanyama said he wanted to learn from Durant and “maybe take one or two of his secret moves.”
At 38, Durant remains part of a veteran group whose careers have lasted long enough for many young players to have grown up watching them. For players such as Wembanyama, the mentorship is unusually direct: their childhood idols are still on the floor across from them.
Next tip
- Los Angeles Lakers, led by Luka Dončić, visit the Utah Jazz and No. 2 overall pick Darryn Peterson at 5 ET on League Pass.
- Indiana Pacers at Brooklyn Nets, 6 ET.
- Orlando Magic at New York Knicks, 7 ET.
- Los Angeles Clippers at Oklahoma City Thunder, 7 ET.
- Minnesota Timberwolves host Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors at 7 ET on NBA TV.
- Sacramento Kings host the Memphis Grizzlies at 9 ET on League Pass, matching Acuff against Boozer.
- LeBron James and Philadelphia meet Cade Cunningham and Detroit on League Pass.
In the WNBA, the Golden State Valkyries pulled even at 2-2 in the 2026 Finals. Game 5 returns to Chase Center on Monday, airing on USA, Peacock and CNBC.
