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Stefan Tonev
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Short-handed Nuggets down Hornets, Jokic shines again
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Denver played without injured Aaron Gordon and Jamaal Murray

Nikola Jokic, the NBA’s Most Valuable Player the last two seasons, finished with 30 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists for his league-leading 20th triple-double and the short-handed Denver Nuggets handed the Charlotte Hornets their seventh straight loss, 119-105 on Saturday night.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 15 points and Bruce Brown and Michael Porter Jr. each scored 14 for the Nuggets, who snapped a string of four straight road losses.

Denver played without Aaron Gordon (rib contusion) and Jamaal Murray (knee inflammation) but outscored the Hornets 62-45 in the second half.

P.J. Washington had 22 points and Gordon Hayward added 21 for Charlotte. LaMelo Ball finished with 18 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds.

The Hornets endured another rough night from the foul line, converting just 17 of 29 attempts. Charlotte is 28 of 52 from the stripe in its last two home games.

Jokic made light work of Hornets rookie Mark Williams and third-year player Nick Richards, using his big body to post up on the low block to seemingly score at will with overpowering moves in the lane.

The Hornets will be back at it Monday night as they host the Atlanta Hawks.

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