NBA: Ex-Nugget Michael Porter Jr. scores 27 to lead Nets over Denver

Michael Porter Jr. scored 27 points and grabbed 11 rebounds against his former team on Sunday as the Brooklyn Nets overcame the Denver Nuggets 127-115 in New York.

Porter, acquired in the offseason from Denver in a trade for Cameron Johnson and a future first-round pick, made 8 of 17 shots after missing the previous two games due to illness. He recorded his seventh double-double of the season, made all nine free-throw attempts, and contributed five assists. With Porter in the lineup, the Nets improved to 11-16.

Noah Clowney added 22 points as Brooklyn shot 50.6%, sank 14 three-pointers, and ended a three-game losing streak. Day’Ron Sharpe started in place of Nic Claxton (personal reasons) and contributed 17 points. Reserve Cam Thomas also scored 17 points after a scoreless first half, while rookies Egor Demin and Ziaire Williams added 13 points each.

For Denver, Jamal Murray scored 27 points, including 20 in the second half, and set a career-high with 16 assists. Tim Hardaway Jr. added 26 points, and Aaron Gordon contributed 20 off the bench in his return from a strained right hamstring. The Nuggets shot 48.2% from the field but were outrebounded 44-33 and made only 11 of 31 three-pointers.

Brooklyn led 33-29 after the first quarter and expanded its advantage to 59-52 at halftime. The Nets pushed the lead to 92-73 in the third quarter on a three-pointer by rookie Nolan Traore and entered the fourth leading 100-84. Denver cut the deficit to 100-90 early in the fourth, but Brooklyn pulled away on a 12-0 run capped by Thomas, who scored the final seven points and helped secure a comfortable lead.

The Nets maintained control for the rest of the game, never trailing by fewer than 11 points.

—Field Level Media/Reuters