Aaron Gordon’s late FTs help Nuggets fend off Bucks

Aaron Gordon had 23 points, including two free throws with 4.4 seconds left, and the host Denver Nuggets held on to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 108-104 on Sunday night.

Tim Hardaway Jr. scored a team-high 25 points off the bench, Peyton Watson added 19 points, Zeke Nnaji contributed 14 points and 10 rebounds and Jalen Pickett scored 13 points for Denver, which was missing Jamal Murray and Christian Braun.

Murray missed his second straight game due to a sore left ankle and an illness, and Braun, who has struggled since returning to action last week, sat while working his way back from a left ankle sprain.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 31 points and 11 assists, Myles Turner scored 16 points, AJ Green and Bobby Portis finished with 14 points apiece and Kyle Kuzma had 11.

The Bucks cut a 14-point deficit down to 102-98 with 3:29 remaining. Antetokounmpo hit a baseline fadeaway and Ryan Rollins hit a layup to make it 105-102 with 1:22 left.

Gordon missed a 3-pointer, Kevin Porter Jr. was long on a layup and Pickett missed from deep to give the Bucks a chance to tie with 32 seconds left.

Milwaukee missed two 3-pointers and a layup, Gordon got the rebound and went 1-for-2 from the line with 9.2 seconds left.

Kuzma hit a driving layup but Gordon sank the clinching free throws for the Nuggets.

Denver led 62-52 at halftime but missed its first nine shots and turned it over three times to start the third quarter. The Nuggets didn't hit their first bucket until Watson's 3-pointer with 5:35 remaining in the period.

Milwaukee took advantage with a 16-4 run to lead 68-66 but then had five empty possessions, and Denver went on a 14-2 run and took an 85-74 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Nuggets opened up a 90-76 lead early in the fourth quarter and the Bucks scored the next five points. Gordon's three-point play made it 95-83 but Milwaukee clamped down defensively, forcing five straight misses and climbing to within 95-89 midway through the fourth.