WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Denver Nuggets halted the Los Angeles Lakers' five-game winning streak with a 122-109 victory, while the Milwaukee Bucks wiped out a 17-point deficit in the second half to get past the New York Knicks 111-107 on Monday.
Serbian center Nikola Jokic finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 16 assists for his 11th triple-double of the season for the Nuggets, who also got a game-high 34 points from Jamal Murray.
The Lakers ruled out LeBron James before tip-off due to a sore left ankle. James, who has averaged 35.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and 7.7 assists over his last three games, was named Western Conference Player of the Week earlier on Monday.
Without their star forward, the Lakers failed to mount enough pressure on the Nuggets, who led by as many as 20 points in the fourth quarter.
Russell Westbrook scored 25 points, and Thomas Bryant added 17 points and 10 rebounds for Los Angeles.
In New York, the Bucks fell behind 70-53 with five minutes remaining in the third quarter, while making 12 3-pointers afterwards in their attempt to come back into contention.
Bucks center Brook Lopez buried a 3-pointer to tie the game at 97-97, Jrue Holiday scored five consecutive points, and the Bucks closed it out at the free throw line. Lopez scored 17 points.
Despite the Knicks' four-game winning streak being stopped, Jalen Brunson can hold his head up with a career-high 44 points. Julius Randle had a double-double of 25 points and 16 rebounds.
Elsewhere, CJ McCollum scored 34 points, Jonas Valanciunas added 27 points and 12 rebounds as the New Orleans Pelicans crushed over the Washington Wizards 132-112.
Jayson Tatum scored 32 points to power the Boston Celtics past the Chicago Bulls 107-99. The Celtics reached the midway point of their season with the NBA's best record of 29-12.
Without their leading scorer Ja Morant due to a sore right thigh, the Memphis Grizzlies held off the San Antonio Spurs 121-113. Tyus Jones, who filled in for Morant, had 24 points.
The Sacramento Kings drained a franchise record 23 3-pointers to blow out the Orlando Magic 136-111. ■
