NBA roundup: Jokic and the Nuggets spoil Doc Rivers' Bucks debut

In Monday night's game, Nikola Jokic showcased his exceptional skills by recording his 14th triple-double of the season. With an impressive performance, Jokic contributed 25 points, 16 rebounds, and 12 assists, leading the Denver Nuggets to a 113-107 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. This win also marked Doc Rivers' debut as the head coach of the Bucks, but unfortunately, it was spoiled by the Nuggets' strong performance.

Nikola Jokic has recorded 119 triple-doubles in the regular season, the fourth-highest total in NBA history, with six of them coming against the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Bucks parted ways with their first-year coach Adrian Griffin on January 23 and quickly replaced him with Doc Rivers three days later. Under interim coach Joe Prunty, the team managed a 2-1 record before Rivers took over on Monday night.

In their recent game, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 29 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, while Brook Lopez contributed 19 points, Damian Lillard added 18, Khris Middleton scored 14, and Bobby Portis secured 12 rebounds for the Bucks.

The Brooklyn Nets secured a 147-114 victory over the Utah Jazz, with Mikal Bridges leading the scoring with 33 points. Ben Simmons made a successful return from a back injury with a double-double in just 18 minutes, recording 10 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds. Cam Thomas also contributed 25 points for the Nets, who achieved their second consecutive win. However, despite rookie Keyonte George's 21 points, the Jazz suffered their fourth loss in six games.

In the clash between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Clippers, Donovan Mitchell's 28 points and 12 assists couldn't prevent the Cavaliers from defeating the visiting Clippers, ending their five-game winning streak. Jarrett Allen's 20 points and 17 rebounds, as well as Isaac Okoro's 17 points in the first half, were instrumental in the Cavaliers' victory.

The return of Evan Mobley, who scored 10 points and grabbed nine rebounds after missing 22 games due to knee surgery, further strengthened the Cavaliers. Despite Kawhi Leonard's 30 points and eight rebounds for the Clippers, they couldn't overcome the Cavaliers.

Luka Doncic's impressive performance of 45 points, 15 assists, and nine rebounds led the Dallas Mavericks to a thrilling 131-129 victory over the Orlando Magic. Tim Hardaway Jr. also played a crucial role, scoring 36 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter.

Despite Paolo Banchero's 36 points and nine rebounds for the Magic, the team couldn't overcome the Mavericks in a game that featured eight lead changes in the final 7:35.

The Phoenix Suns defeated the Miami Heat 118-105, with Eric Gordon scoring 23 points and Devin Booker adding 22. Despite Booker's slow start, he played a key role in the Suns' victory.

Jimmy Butler's 26 points, eight rebounds, and four assists were not enough to prevent the Heat from suffering their seventh consecutive loss, their longest streak since the 2007/08 season and under Erik Spoelstra's tenure. Grayson Allen of the Suns scored three points before spraining his right ankle in the second quarter.

Jalen Brunson's 32 points and Donte DiVincenzo's 28 points helped the New York Knicks secure a 113-92 victory over the Charlotte Hornets, despite playing without Julius Randle, who sustained a shoulder injury in their previous game. The Knicks dominated the third quarter, scoring 44 points, nearly matching their first-half total of 46. Brandon Miller's 29 points and Miles Bridges' 21 points were not enough for the Hornets to avoid a blowout loss at home.

The Boston Celtics defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 118-112, with Jayson Tatum's 28 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists leading the way. Jaylen Brown also contributed with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists for the Celtics, who overcame an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Brandon Ingram's 28 points and Zion Williamson's 26 points were not enough for the Pelicans to secure a victory.

In a high-scoring game, the Houston Rockets defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 135-119, with Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun both recording near-matching double-doubles. Green scored 34 points and grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds, while Sengun tallied 31 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists. LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and D'Angelo Russell each scored 23 points for the Lakers, who had won five of their previous seven games.

The Minnesota Timberwolves secured a 107-101 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, with Anthony Edwards scoring 27 points to lead the way. The win put the Timberwolves ahead of the Thunder in the Western Conference standings. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 37 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds in a losing effort.

De'Aaron Fox's 23 points and Domantas Sabonis' 20 points and 26 rebounds propelled the Sacramento Kings to a 103-94 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. Kevin Huerter's late-game heroics helped the Kings secure the win, outshooting and outrebounding the Grizzlies in the process. Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies with 22 points, while David Roddy grabbed 10 rebounds.

The Washington Wizards rallied to a 118-113 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, with Kyle Kuzma's 18 points and 11 rebounds and Daniel Gafford's 16 points and 13 rebounds leading the charge.

Marvin Bagley III and Jones also made significant contributions for the Wizards, who secured back-to-back wins for the first time this season. Devin Vassell led the Spurs with 24 points, while Victor Wembanyama added 22 points and 11 rebounds off the bench.