DENVER — The Denver Nuggets showcased a dominant performance against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night, securing a 139-120 victory, powered by an impressive display from Nikola Jokic. Jokic finished the game with 23 points, 17 rebounds, and 15 assists, narrowly missing a triple-double in the opening half by just one assist. He did, however, achieve his 144th career triple-double early in the third quarter.

Alongside Jokic, Jamal Murray contributed significantly with 21 points, while Russell Westbrook put up 16 points and 11 assists. This victory marked the Nuggets’ third consecutive win, a strong start to what is set to be a challenging month featuring 17 games. Notably, the Nuggets excelled at the free-throw line, completing a flawless 21 of 21 attempts. They also set a new season high in assists with a total of 44, further demonstrating their sharp offensive coordination.

This victory over the Hawks also completed a 2-0 sweep in their season series, having previously defeated Atlanta 141-111 on December 8, where Jokic had a remarkable outing with 48 points and 14 rebounds.

For the Hawks, Trae Young led the team with 30 points and nine assists, while De’Andre Hunter provided a solid contribution from the bench with 20 points. Unfortunately for Atlanta, their four-game winning streak came to an end with this loss.

In terms of historical context, the Hawks are now 11-11 when playing on New Year’s Day. Meanwhile, the Nuggets’ newly emerged starter, Westbrook, continues to energize the lineup in the absence of Aaron Gordon, who is sidelined due to a strained right calf. Impressive team depth was displayed, with seven players finishing the contest scoring in double figures.

A pivotal moment in the game was a powerful 39-14 run by the Nuggets during the third quarter. This stretch was marred by controversy as Young received a technical foul, while Hunter was also penalized for flopping.

Interestingly, Trae Young’s performance maintained his streak of five or more assists in 193 consecutive regular-season games, which now stands as the third-longest such streak in NBA history, behind only legends John Stockton and Isiah Thomas.

Looking ahead, the Hawks are set to face the Los Angeles Lakers this Friday, while the Nuggets will host the San Antonio Spurs in their next matchup.