Porter’s tip-in bucket with 3:16 left to play gave him 39 points but he missed an open 3-pointer that would have given him his 40. When Malone took him out about the two-minute mark, the fans gave Porter a standing ovation. The Nuggets improved to 15-2 all-time when Porter scores 30 or more points.

Michael Porter Jr. tied a career high with 39 points on the eve of the trade deadline, Nikola Jokic added 38 and the Denver Nuggets beat the struggling New Orleans Pelicans 144-119 for their fourth straight win.