Chicago Bulls vs Denver Nuggets Box Score on Nov 30, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Nov 30, 2017

DENVER -- Will Barton hit a driving layup with 3.2 seconds left to finish with a career-high 37 points, and the Denver Nuggets overcame Nikola Jokic's injury to pull out a 111-110 win over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night.

Barton scored six points in the final 45 seconds to rescue his team against the team with the worst record in the NBA. Gary Harris scored 21 for Denver (12-9).

Lauri Markkanen had 20 points and nine rebounds, Robin Lopez also scored 20 and Kris Dunn had 19 points for Chicago. Justin Holiday added 16 for the Bulls (3-17), who have lost seven in a row.

Jokic was injured with 44 seconds left in the first half when he stepped on Jerian Grant's foot on a drive to the basket. He stayed on the floor holding his ankle. He remained in the game long enough to hit two free throws, and the Nuggets immediately fouled to stop the clock.

Jokic went to the locker room and had X-rays taken at halftime and did not return. He finished the night with eight points, four rebounds and four assists.

Barton hit three free throws to tie the game at 108 with 45 seconds left, and then split a pair with 20 seconds left to put Denver ahead.

Dunn hit a layup over Kenneth Faried with 9.1 seconds left to put Chicago ahead by one, but Barton drove through the lane and hit a reverse layup. Chicago's Denzel Valentine missed a 32-foot heave at the buzzer.

Earlier, Denver went on a 10-2 run to take a four-point lead but then missed five shots and committed two turnovers, and the Bulls rallied to go ahead 104-101 with 2:57 left.

The Bulls stunned the Nuggets with a 19-4 run early in the game to take an 18-point lead. Barton came in and scored 12 points in a span of 2:18 to get Denver within five.

Chicago maintained the lead throughout the first half and went into the locker room ahead 68-62.

NOTES: Nuggets G Will Barton's previous career high was 35 against the Clippers on March 16. ... Chicago's 68 points at intermission tied a season high for the first half. ... Bulls G Zach LaVine is getting closer to making his debut with the Bulls. LaVine tore his left ACL last February while with Minnesota and has started practicing. "Zach had individual workout (Thursday) and he'll have a full practice (Friday)," Chicago coach Fred Hoiberg said. ... Nuggets F Wilson Chandler missed his second straight game and third in the last five with low back soreness. ... Chicago F Nikola Mirotic (facial fracture) has started practicing and is close to returning.