Nuggets beat Nets in return of Michael Porter Jr. to Denver

Jamal Murray scored 27 points, Jonas Valanciunas hit two free throws with 2.6 seconds left, and the host Denver Nuggets beat the Brooklyn Nets 107-103 in Michael Porter Jr.'s return to the Mile High City.

Porter scored a season-high 38 points but missed his final four 3-point attempts after Brooklyn rallied to tie it.

Terance Mann had 12 points and Nic Claxton scored 10 for the Nets, who have lost seven straight.

Tim Hardaway Jr. had 25 points on tied his season with seven 3-pointers, Peyton Watson scored 19 points and Valanciunas and Bruce Brown contributed 12 points each for Denver.

Porter spent his first six NBA seasons with the Nuggets, helping the franchise win its first NBA title in 2023. The sold-out crowd gave Porter a standing ovation during a video tribute to him at the first timeout of the game.

Porter used that as fuel to score 20 points in the first half but Hardaway nearly matched it, scoring 19 to help the Nuggets take a 64-49 into intermission.

The Nets came out strong in the third quarter. Mann and Porter each hit a pair of 3-pointers during Brooklyn's 16-4 run to open the second half, cutting the deficit to 68-65 and forcing a Denver timeout.

The Nuggets stayed cold, missing eight straight shots, but the Nets had six consecutive empty possessions to thwart a chance to take the lead. Murray's dunk ended Denver's drought but Martin hit a 3-pointer and dunked off a turnover to tie it with 3:51 left.

Julian Strawther's steal and layup with a second left gave the Nuggets a 79-76 lead heading into the fourth.

Denver went ahead 90-84 but the Nets went on a 10-2 run to take the lead, but the Nuggets responded

Valanciunas converted a three-point play to put Denver back in front. Porter missed a pair of 3-pointers and Murray took over, scoring the next seven points to give the Nuggets a 104-98 lead.

Porter hit two free throws, Watson split a pair and then fouled Mann on a 3-point attempt. Mann made all three to move the Nets within two but Valanciunas sealed it at the line.