Brooklyn Nets Survive Late Rally by Denver Nuggets to Record Shock Road Win

• The Brooklyn Nets defeated the Denver Nuggets to move into fifth place in the East
• Brooklyn unleashed a balanced offensive attack, with seven players scoring in double-figures
• Denver lost despite Nikola Jokic recording yet another triple-double against Brooklyn

The Brooklyn Nets bolstered their hopes of landing a guaranteed spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs with a thrilling 122-120 win over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday.

Mikal Bridges scored 25 points for the Nets, who moved a half-game ahead of the New York Knicks for fifth place in the East.

They have won five of their last six games, including their previous two outings.

Bridges shot 7 of 16 from the field, including 3 of 8 from beyond the arc against the Nuggets. He also had three rebounds, two assists, and one steal, per ESPN.

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Nets' balanced attack stuns Nuggets

He got some help from his teammates as six other Nets players scored in double-figures.

Nic Claxton was a force down low, scoring 20 points on 8 of 9 shooting from the floor. Dorian Finney-Smith and Spencer Dinwiddie each scored 15 points, while Cam Johnson chipped in 14.

Seth Curry and Royce O’Neal provided some firepower off the bench, scoring 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Nets withstand Nuggets' late rally

The win did not come easy for the Nets as they had to stave off a furious Nuggets fightback in the fourth quarter. Denver outscored Brooklyn 33-24 in the final period.

The Nuggets had the opportunity to take the lead late in the game, but Nikola Jokic missed a 14-foot jumper with five seconds remaining. Jokic was in fine form again, registering a triple-double with 35 points, 20 rebounds, and 11 assists.

The Nuggets matched their season-high with their third consecutive defeat. Their lead atop the Western Conference standings has been whittled down to just five games.

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Is Jokic the MVP?

Sports Brief recently reported on Jokic leading the MVP candidates this season.

The reigning two-time MVP is averaging a triple-double this campaign, making him the favorite for some to win the Michael Jordan Trophy at the end of the season.

He’s got some competition, though, with Joel Embiid also playing some outstanding basketball for the Philadelphia 76ers. Embiid, who finished runner-up to Jokic in the MVP voting the past two seasons, is averaging 33.4 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game this campaign.