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Denver Nuggets

Nuggets beat Rockets 117-110 on somber day

It was a melancholy day as players and fans learned about an hour before the game of the helicopter crash that killed NBA great Kobe Bryant.

Credit: AP

Houston Rockets guard Austin Rivers and forward P.J. Tucker react during a tribute to NBA star Kobe Bryant before an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, in Denver. Bryant died in a California helicopter crash Sunday. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Nikola Jokic turned in his ninth triple-double of the season, Jerami Grant scored a season-high 25 points and the Denver Nuggets held off the Houston Rockets 117-110 on a melancholy day as players and fans learned about an hour before the game of the helicopter crash that killed NBA great Kobe Bryant.

Jokic finished with 24 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists to help the Nuggets even the season series with Houston at two apiece.

The Rockets were without leading scorer James Harden, who sat out with a bruised left thigh. Russell Westbrook scored 32 points.

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