Nikola Jokic dropped 40 in the comeback win over the Hawks

The Denver Nuggets overcame a huge 23-point deficit to beat the Atlanta Hawks 134-133 on Friday, their biggest comeback of the season and third-largest in franchise history.

Center Nikola Jokić led Denver’s rallyhe scored 40 points and added nine rebounds and eight assists in 36 minutes. He shot 13 of 26 from the field, 1 of 8 from three and 13 of 15 from the free throw line with 30 of his points comes in the second half.

The three-time MVP has now scored 40 or more points for the third time in 22 regular season games and continued his streak of 20-plus points in five consecutive contests, including three double-doubles and a triple-double. Although he got off to a cold start, shooting just 2-of-13 overall and 0-of-6 from deep in the first half, Jokic exploded after halftime, scoring 19 points in the third quarter on a perfect 7-of-7 shooting and adding 11 more in the fourth.

The 30-year-old is now averaging 29.2 points, 12.4 rebounds and 11 assists in 22 games this season.

Jamal Murray supported Jokic with 23 points and 12 assists, recording his fifth double-double of the season. All of Murray’s assists came in the second half, and he contributed defensively with a key steal on Kristaps Porzingis and a block on Nikhil Alexander-Walker in the final seconds.

The Nuggets bench took control during Jokic’s short rest early in the fourth quarter, igniting a 20-0 run that erased a nine-point deficit and gave them a 117-106 lead with less than seven minutes remaining. The reserves combined for 40 points on 14-of-20 (70%) shooting, including eight 3-pointers in the final quarter, which tied Denver’s season high for 3-pointers in a single period.

Atlanta’s dominance in the first half was overwhelming. The Hawks led 73-54 at halftime, thanks to Jalen Johnson’s historic first-half triple-double of 21 points, 18 rebounds and 16 assists, making him just the fifth player in the franchise era to accomplish the feat before halftime. Nikhil Alexander-Walker scored 30 points and Kristaps Porzingis added 25 as Atlanta shot 76.2 percent (16 of 21) in the first quarter and made eight of 12 three-point attempts to open a 23-13 lead.

The Nuggets outscored Atlanta 80-60 in the second half, with timely baskets and defensive plays. After Jokic’s late free throws gave Denver a three-point cushion with 15.6 seconds left, Alexander-Walker’s last-ditch attempts were thwarted by Murray’s defense, allowing the Nuggets to go in and run out the clock.

The win extended Denver’s winning streak to nine games, the longest in franchise history, and gives the Nuggets momentum going into their next game against the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday.