Nikola Jokic's season-high 39 points carries the Denver Nuggets to a victory over the Charlotte Hornets

James McKern

Nikola Jokic's season-high 39 points carries the Denver Nuggets to a victory over the Charlotte Hornets image

The Denver Nuggets delivered once again in front of their home fans on Saturday, as they toppled the Charlotte Hornets by a final score of 123-110.

A tight first half tussle saw only two points separating the two sides at the main break, but the Nuggets began to pull away in the second half.

With Paul Millsap and Gary Harris providing a huge spark off the bench, the home side maintained their place atop the Western Conference and extended their winning streak to five games.

Millsap and Harris combined for 35 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists and five steals, but it was the work of big man Nikola Jokic that stole the limelight.

Jokic proved a constant headache for the Hornets defense as he piled in a season-high 39 points to go along with 12 rebounds, six assists and three steals.



Kemba Walker once again led the way for the Hornets with 20 points, but the challenge of taking down the number one team in the West proved too strong.

The loss drops the Hornets to 18-20 on the season and on the brink of dropping out of the top eight in the Eastern Conference.

For the Nuggets, they move 1.5 games clear of the Oklahoma City Thunder as they push their record to 26-11.

Denver has a day off before a key clash against the rising Houston Rockets on Monday.

The Hornets will look to snap their two-game losing streak when they travel into Phoenix for a meeting with the Suns on Sunday.

James McKern