NBA: Nuggets rally late to edge Kings

Jamal Murray's go-ahead jumper with 8.6 seconds remaining lifted the Denver Nuggets to a third consecutive victory, a 130-129 win over the Sacramento Kings on Monday.

Murray's clutch shooting and another triple-double from Nikola Jokić helped put the Kings' three-game winning streak to a halt. Jokic amassed 20 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists for his league-leading 10th triple-double.

Denver also received 24 points from Aaron Gordon and 18 points and 10 assists from Russell Westbrook in addition to a team-high 28 points from Murray, who knocked down a step-back shot from 16 feet to put the Nuggets ahead in the final stages.

The Kings had a chance to regain the lead with time winding down, but DeMar DeRozan's short turnaround jumper missed the mark just before time expired.

De'Aaron Fox led Sacramento with 29 points to go along with seven assists. Domantas Sabonis compiled 28 points and 14 rebounds in the loss, while Malik Monk also notched a double-double with 25 points and 10 assists.

The Nuggets extended their streak despite trailing 119-109 with four minutes left. They reversed momentum with a 14-3 run capped by Jokic's jumper with 1:15 left that gave Denver a 123-122 edge.

The teams then traded baskets in the final minute, with Sacramento going up 129-128 on DeRozan's dunk off a Fox feed with 20.5 seconds left before Murray answered on the following possession.

Add it to the "Jamal Murray Clutch Buckets" filepic.twitter.com/DRNL1eLnVk

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 17, 2024

Denver shot nearly 60 per cent during a dominant first quarter to own a 41-21 advantage after one period, but the Kings outscored the Nuggets 47-34 in the second quarter to pull within 75-68 at the half.

Sacramento continued its surge into the third quarter, with Monk's 3-pointer with 8:05 left in the frame giving the Kings an 81-80 lead. Sacramento eventually stretched the margin to 103-96 entering the fourth.

Maxey, George lead 76ers past Hornets in Ball's return

The Philadelphia 76ers got big performances from two of their top players to overcome a return to the court by the Charlotte Hornets' biggest star.

Tyrese Maxey poured in 40 points and Paul George had a season-high 33 as the 76ers continued their recent good form with a 121-108 victory over the Hornets, who had LaMelo Ball back in the lineup for the first time since Nov. 27.

Ball recorded 15 points and 11 assists in his comeback from a strained calf that sidelined him seven games, but Charlotte couldn't slow down either Maxey or George and lost for the 10th time in 11 games. The 76ers' duo each knocked down six 3-pointers, with George adding eight assists to help Philadelphia to its fifth win in seven games.

The 76ers also received 19 points from Kelly Oubre Jr. and 15 rebounds from Andre Drummond, starting in place of Joel Embiid with the 2022-23 NBA MVP out with a sinus fracture.

Charlotte was dealt another injury to a key player as well, as forward Brandon Miller sprained his left ankle in the fourth quarter and did not return.

Miles Bridges paced the Hornets with 24 points and Nick Richards contributed 19 off the bench on 7-of-9 shooting.

The 76ers led from nearly start to finish, as George put up 15 first-quarter points and Maxey 12 to stake Philadelphia to a 31-23 advantage after one period. The Sixers took a 54-49 edge into half-time.

heating up.pic.twitter.com/dvGBu3iX0f

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) December 17, 2024

Charlotte got its deficit down to three early in the second half, but the 76ers shot 65.2 per cent during a 41-point third quarter and put the game out of reach later in the period. Philadelphia outscored the Hornets by a 26-10 margin over a six-minute stretch to go up 93-72 with under two minutes left in the quarter.

Pistons cool off Heat with overtime win

Cade Cunningham scored the go-ahead basket with 37.5 seconds left in overtime as the Detroit Pistons stopped the Miami Heat's season-high four-game winning streak with a 125-124 victory.

Cunningham recorded a 20-point, 11-rebound, 18-assist triple-double and Malik Beasley scored a season-high 28 points to help Detroit prevail despite blowing a 19-point lead in the fourth quarter.

The Pistons also tied a season-high by making 20 3-pointers in 40 attempts. Beasley went 7 of 13 from beyond the arc, while Tim Hardaway Jr. had three of his five triples in overtime en route to a 16-point night.

Miami lost for the first time since Dec. 2 despite Jimmy Butler's 35-point, 19-rebound, 10-assist triple-double. Tyler Herro sparked the Heat's fourth-quarter comeback by scoring 13 of his 23 points during the period.

After turning a four-point half-time edge into a 97-81 advantage after three quarters, the Pistons owned a seemingly comfortable 107-88 lead with 8 1/2 minutes remaining in regulation.

Miami stormed back, however, by outscoring Detroit by a 26-7 margin over the remainder of the fourth quarter. The Heat forced overtime on Herro's 3-ball with 5.2 seconds left on the clock that tied the game at 114-114.

The Heat then opened overtime on an 8-0 run, but Hardaway knocked down three straight 3-pointers to put Detroit up 123-122 entering the final minute. Butler's putback on the ensuing possession sent Miami back in front before Cunningham drove the lane and hit a short floater for a 125-124 lead.

Not new to this... pic.twitter.com/pHi7gaLS6q

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) December 17, 2024

Miami missed its final three shots after Cunningham's basket, with Herro misfiring on a pair of 3-pointers and Butler having a layup blocked by Cunningham in the closing seconds.