Jokic, Gallinari lead Nuggets over Bulls
CHICAGO -- Nikola Jokic had a triple-double, Danilo Gallinari added 22 points and the Denver Nuggets cranked up the offense in a 125-107 victory against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night at the United Center.
The Nuggets (27-33) had lost three of their previous four games and three in a row on the road against the Bulls (30-30). They took control of this one late in the third quarter and didn't let up, finishing the game with seven players in double-figure scoring.
Jokic led the way with 19 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists for the Nuggets, who topped 120 points for the 11th time in their past 23 games. Wilson Chandler had 20 points, Gary Harris and Will Barton each had 15, Jamal Murray had 14 and Jameer Nelson finished with 12.
Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo each finished with 19 points to lead the Bulls, who got 12 points from Bobby Portis and 10 from Robin Lopez. Jimmy Butler was held to eight points on 3-of-13 shooting.
Denver charged to the lead in the last three minutes of the third quarter and led 91-83 starting the fourth. The Nuggets pushed it to 99-83 on five points from Gallinari in the first 1:59 before Wade responded with a 3-pointer, but Denver tacked on 12 more points to lead 110-89 on four straight 3s -- two from Murray and one each from Barton and Gallinari.
The Bulls led 25-22 after the first quarter and 59-56 at the half, led by 10 points each from Rondo and Wade. Felicio added nine off the bench in the first half in just seven minutes of action.
NOTES: Bulls PG Michael Carter-Williams missed his second straight game with patellar tendinitis. ... Chicago rookie F Paul Zipser missed his third straight game with left ankle tendinitis. ... Nuggets F Kenneth Faried missed his second game in a row with a lower back strain.