Nuggets claw Wolves to reclaim top spot

LOS ANGELES – Nikola Jokic scored 41 points as the Denver Nuggets reclaimed pole position in the Western Conference playoff race with a 116-107 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in their top-of-the-table clash on Wednesday (Thursday Manila time).

In a hard-fought showdown in Denver that saw the lead change hands 15 times, the Nuggets finally pulled clear in the fourth quarter to seal victory.

The result means the Nuggets, the reigning NBA champions, lead the Western Conference by one game with two regular-season fixtures remaining.

With their final opponents lowly ranked Memphis and San Antonio, the Nuggets (56-24) are now heavy favorites to finish top of the West and seal the No. 1 seeding and home advantage through the playoffs.

"We found a way to win, our defense in the fourth quarter was amazing," Jokic told ESPN, before downplaying the significance of Denver's return to the top.

"It's important to be honest, but the West is really, really, really tough. We could play the Los Angeles Lakers or Golden State in the first round — they're all good teams."

Jokic, who also had 11 rebounds, seven assists and three steals, was backed by 20 points from Jamal Murray while Michael Porter Jr. added 18.

Anthony Edwards led Minnesota's scoring with 25 points while Mike Conley added 19. Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid finished with 13 points apiece.

Minnesota's defeat dropped them into third place in the West behind Oklahoma City Thunder. Although the Timberwolves and OKC have identical records of 55-25 with two games remaining, the Thunder hold the tiebreaker by virtue of the better divisional record.

Oklahoma City moved into second place on Wednesday after swatting aside the San Antonio Spurs 127-89, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 26 points in a 38-point beatdown of the bottom-ranked Spurs (20-60).

The Phoenix Suns bounced back from their 105-92 home defeat to the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday with a comprehensive 124-108 win on the road in the return fixture.

Devin Booker's 37-point effort drove Phoenix to victory with Kevin Durant adding 24 and Bradley Beal 26.

The win leaves Phoenix with a fighting chance of reaching the automatic playoff places with two games