Caris LeVert added 20 points for the Nets, who had dropped two in a row during Irving’s four-game absence for personal reasons and seemed well on their way to a third when they trailed 79-61 early in the third quarter. But they got hot from 3-point range and Durant from just about everywhere.
They blew past the Nuggets with a 29-4 run that gave them a 90-83 lead, and when Jokic checked out after the next possession he kicked over a chair in the last row of Denver’s bench in frustration.
Will Barton scored 22 points for the Nuggets, making six 3-pointers. Jamal Murray scored 20.
Jokic scored 13 points in the first quarter and Denver already led by double digits barely a minute into the second. The lead was eight with about four minutes left before Murray finally got going with three baskets, including a 3-pointer that made it 70-54 at the break.
TIP-INS
Nuggets: Denver gave 7-foot-2 Bol Bol his first career start, with Gary Harris out for personal reasons. Bol finished with five points in 16 minutes. ... Monte Morris scored 14 points.
Nets: Coach Steve Nash wasn’t sure if Durant would play Wednesday at New York. Durant, who missed last season recovering from surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon, sat out the second half of the Nets’ first back-to-back of the season. “I really hope Kevin plays tomorrow, but we’ll see,” Nash said before the game. “We have to judge these things day to day and moment to moment. Like, I could come in here with a template, but who knows what happens tonight.” ... DeAndre Jordan, the starting center to begin the season, didn’t play.
