Nikola Jokic should be Led to Charlotte next month to Your All-Star Game.

Don’t expect the Hornets, who were pummeled with the Nuggets’ ascendant center Saturday, to welcome him.

Jokic, who once more discovered “M-V-P” chants in the sold-out audience, poured in a season-high 39 points, snagged 12 rebounds and dished 6 assists as the Nuggets pulled from the second half for the 123-110 success. It had been the Nuggets’ fifth win in a row and their 10th consecutive at the Pepsi Center.

It’s the latest in a year the Nuggets are in first place at the Western Conference as 1977.

“Tonight I thought he would ’t had 50 points,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “He also missed lots of small chippies and bunnies around the basket. … An aggressive Nikola Jokic to score, to make plays, to rebound is a (heck) of a participant which sets the tone for everybody. ”

Though Jokic dominated, the Nuggets’ defense returned to form. They converted 17 turnovers to 27 points and maintained Kemba Walker (6 of 17 in the field for 20 points) largely in check. Paul Millsap had a few of those Nuggets’ 10 steals to go with 18 points. Gary Harris added 17 off the bench and seemed every bit as explosive as he did earlier in the year.

Jamal Murray entered Saturday day with a mean of more than 30 points per match over the Nuggets’ winning series, but he seemed to labour through a difficult first half. Since Dec. 1, Murray has dropped almost 36 minutes per match, that’s the most about the group.

“It’s much more about his health … that he ’so likely to fight through every thing,” Malone said of maintaining Murray brand new. “He wants to come out of the match. He’s tough child emotionally and emotionally. We don’t want to only think about now, you’t got additionally to step back occasionally and think big image. We want to be a group which ’s playing nicely after the middle of April. We’ll continue to monitor his circumstance. When we will need to rest him, we shall. ”

Murray has a penchant for playing through pain and has only missed a match in his profession.

“Ultimately, I know who I’m dealing with,” Malone said. “Sometimes, that’therefore my job as a head coach. I truly don’t care what you need to say, Jamal. I’m doing what’s best for you personally. You may not realize that in the present time. But you have ta take a seat here because we’re likely to want you moving ahead. ”

Section of Malone’s job during the next couple weeks are going to be to reintegrate his former starters — that they ’re still waiting on the return of Will Barton — and facilitate his reserve players into more limited roles. That may mean less playing time for Trey Lyles or even Malik Beasley.

Torrey Craig’s playing time could see a decrease as well, but he played especially well in December and had yet another good game against the Hornets.

“Torrey isn’t just being considered (such as ) he’s out there to guard,” Malone said. “If you leave him he can also measure and make a shot, he can also reach the basket. ”

Harris, in his third game back, looked completely unhampered by his latest hip injury. He soared to get a second-quarter dip over Hornets forward Miles Bridges and murdered two easy 3-pointers to finish the first half with 12 points.

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The first NBA All-Star unemployment returns are in. And then Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic positions a distant 7th in the race.

He and Millsap caught their rhythm following extended time off. Millsap was busy around the glass and productive using 11 points in 11 minutes over the first two quarters.

Both came off the bench, but Malone said that they ’d return to the starting lineup soon.

“Sometimes, you don’t want to destroy a fantastic thing, but at the conclusion of the afternoon, I know which both Paul and Gary Harris are all yours,” Malone said. “They’ll be back at the starting lineup at a timely fashion, but if that is, is a tough decision to make. I’m planning to stay with what we’re doing at this time. I believe it’s functioning. ”

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