Nikola Jokic had 22 points and 12 rebounds, and Paul Millsap's putback with 0.1 seconds left in overtime gave the Denver Nuggets a 108-107 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.
Trailing by a point, Denver inbounded the ball with 3.5 seconds remaining. Jokic missed, but Millsap grabbed the rebound and converted a layup off the glass for the winning basket as the Nuggets improved to 6-1.
Denver had a 23-8 edge in second-chance points.
Zach LaVine scored 28 points and Wendell Carter Jr. added a career-high 25 for Chicago.
LaVine has scored at least 20 points in a career-best nine straight games, a streak that dates back to last season. It was Carter's second consecutive game establishing a new high. He had 18 points Monday against the Golden State Warriors.
After Denver took a 106-104 lead in overtime on Jokic's 3-pointer - he had eight of Denver's 10 points in OT - Justin Holiday answered with a 3 to put the Bulls on top 107-106 with 1:26 to play.
After giving up 92 first-half points to Golden State on Monday, the Bulls allowed just 51 in the first two quarters Wednesday but still trailed by three at halftime.
Chicago held a 96-90 edge with three minutes left before Denver went on an 8-2 spurt to tie it at 98 with 1:07 left.
Neither team could convert multiple opportunities in the final minute of regulation.
TIP-INS
Nuggets: The team announced Tuesday it had picked up next season's option on the rookie-scale contracts of 2016 first-round draft picks Jamal Murray, Juan Hernangomez and Malik Beasley.
Bulls: F Lauri Markkanen (sprained right elbow) continues to progress in his rehab and this week added running on the track and upper-body weight training to his routine. "He's still two to four weeks out," coach Fred Hoiberg said. . G Denzel Valentine (sprained left ankle) is scheduled to have an MRI and will be re-evaluated on Thursday . The team announced Tuesday that next season's option had been picked up on the rookie-scale contracts of Markkanen, Valentine and Kris Dunn.
UP NEXT
Nuggets: At the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night.
Bulls: Host the Indiana Pacers on Friday night.
