NBA: Butler returns from suspension in Heat's loss to Nuggets

Jamal Murray scored 30 points, Nikola Jokic extended his NBA lead with his 17th triple-double of the season and the Denver Nuggets spoiled Jimmy Butler's return with a 133-113 victory over the Miami Heat on Friday night.

Jokic finished with 24 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists and Aaron Gordon added 16 points to help Denver win for the fifth time in six games.

Tyler Herro scored 22 points for Miami, while Butler had 18 in his first game back from a seven-game suspension. Bam Adebayo finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Miami has dropped a season-high three in a row at home - all by double digits.

Jokic made a 3-pointer with four seconds left in the third quarter, pushing Denver's lead to 12. His 3 triggered a 14-2 run that put the game basically out of Miami's reach.

Including a pair of triple-doubles in NBA Finals games, Jokic has eight triple-doubles against Miami. The Nuggets are 8-0 in those games.

"Denver built an early double-digit lead and never looked back. They're 14-0 this season when they lead at halftime." https://t.co/mr3GC6H5NY pic.twitter.com/ehaTC6Lalf

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) January 18, 2025

Edwards powers Wolves past Knicks

Anthony Edwards had 36 points, a season-high 13 rebounds and seven assists, leading the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 116-99 victory over the New York Knicks.

Edwards made eight 3-pointers and reserve Naz Reid was 6 for 6 behind the arc as the Timberwolves matched their season best with 22 3-pointers in 40 attempts. Reid finished with 23 points and eight rebounds.

Julius Randle had just eight points but added seven rebounds and six assists during his first game in New York since being traded along with Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota in October for Karl-Anthony Towns.

Towns missed his second straight game with a sprained right thumb and DiVincenzo was sidelined with a sprained left big toe.

Jalen Brunson scored 26 points for the Knicks, who lost for the sixth time in nine games. OG Anunoby and Cam Payne each added 18.

Brunson’s jumper with 8:19 remaining drew New York within 91-87, but Jaden McDaniels hit a 3, Edwards converted a three-point play, Rudy Gobert dunked, and Edwards sank a 3 to extend the lead to 102-89.

bringing a dub back home. pic.twitter.com/wAbt8HSrVk

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) January 18, 2025

Hot-shooting Celtics rout Magic

Jayson Tatum scored 30 points and the Boston Celtics knocked down 17 3-pointers in a 121-94 win over the Orlando Magic.

With freshman star Cooper Flagg and his Duke teammates looking on from the stands, Tatum, a former Blue Devils standout, went 12 of 21 from the floor to help Boston break out of a recent shooting slump. No. 3 Duke plays at Boston College on Saturday.

Boston shot a season-best 61% in the first half and took a 12-point lead into halftime. The Celtics shot 53% on the night, including 46% (17 of 37) from 3-point range, and led by 27 in the second half. Kristaps Porzingis finished with 23 points on 7-of-10 shooting.

Cole Anthony had 23 points and Paolo Banchero scored 21 for Orlando, which has lost four of five.

The Magic scored the first five points of the third quarter to get within 66-59. Boston responded with an 8-0 run and outscored the Magic 30-22 in the period to take control.

Lights out from the jump JT is tonight's @Gatorade Player of the Game pic.twitter.com/eEjp8pDOVb

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 18, 2025