Jokić’s triple-double and Gordon’s 25 carry Nuggets past Bulls, 133-128

Nikola Jokić recorded 22 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, and Aaron Gordon scored 25 as the Denver Nuggets rallied past the Chicago Bulls 133-128 in a preseason game Sunday at Ball Arena.

Denver overturned a nine-point halftime deficit with a 40-point third quarter, then held off Chicago’s reserves in a close finish. Cameron Johnson added 15 points, making four of his five attempts from beyond the arc. Jamal Murray and Julian Strawther scored 13 apiece.

Chicago led 68-59 at halftime after Caleb Wilson beat the second-quarter buzzer with a 30-foot step-back three. The Bulls had outscored Denver 41-30 in the period, putting the Nuggets behind despite their 29-27 lead after the first quarter. Wilson finished with 17 points, four rebounds and five assists.

The Bulls’ official video shows Wilson’s shot to close the half.

Gordon’s shooting helped Denver cut into that lead. He finished 9-for-12 from the field and 3-for-4 from three, adding six rebounds. His third three, with 7:02 remaining in the third quarter, came off a Johnson assist and brought Denver within 80-78.

Denver shared the ball to find Gordon on that possession.

Johnson supplied another lead-changing shot. His fourth three-pointer, off a Murray assist with 5:24 left in the third, put the Nuggets ahead 83-82. Denver finished the quarter with a 99-94 advantage, turning Chicago’s strong first half into a five-point deficit entering the fourth.

Johnson’s fourth three is shown in the Nuggets’ official clip.

Jokić shot 8-for-12 from the field and reached his triple-double in 26 minutes, 29 seconds. Denver also got 11 points and five rebounds from DaRon Holmes II and 10 points from Bryce Hopkins as the bench helped protect the lead late.

Leonard Miller led Chicago with 26 points and seven rebounds. He made 11 of 14 shots, including four of six threes. Buddy Hield added 15 points, Matas Buzelis had 13 and Jalen Smith scored 11. Josh Giddey finished with eight assists.

The Bulls stayed within reach into the final minute. Holmes dunked with 1:40 left to make it 126-122, but Orlando Robinson answered with a three 10 seconds later to trim the margin to one. Denver then scored its last seven points at the foul line, including two Holmes free throws with 37.3 seconds remaining.

Drew Peterson’s three with 15.9 seconds left brought Chicago within 131-128. Cam Whitmore made both free throws with 14 seconds to go, restoring a five-point cushion. Peterson’s turnover with 6.6 seconds left ended Chicago’s final possession.

Chicago made 21 of 50 three-point attempts, compared with Denver’s 13 of 32. The Nuggets offset that shooting difference at the line: they made 32 of 46 free throws, while the Bulls went 13-for-18. Denver’s 19-point advantage there helped it survive a game in which Chicago made eight more threes.

Sources

NBA: Bulls–Nuggets final box score and complete play-by-play · ESPN: Bulls–Nuggets final game summary · CBS Sports: Bulls–Nuggets final GameTracker · TheScore: Bulls–Nuggets final GameTracker