Jamal Murray scored 34 points, Nikola Jokic finished an assist shy of his 26th triple-double of the season and the Denver Nuggets extended their winning streak to nine games by holding off the depleted Charlotte Hornets 129-115.

Denver’s lead was still only 99-96 as the fourth began, but Julian Strawther and Russell Westbrook hit consecutive 3s while Jokic was on the bench — providing critical insurance on a night when Jokic broke a career-high with 14 shot attempts outside the arc.