Nikola Jokic notched his 25th triple-double of the season, even opting to rest during the fourth quarter, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope contributed a season-best 24 points, driving the Nuggets (54-24) to take sole possession of first place in the Western Conference.

They now sit half a game ahead of the idle Minnesota Timberwolves, who are scheduled to visit Denver on Wednesday night. Clint Capela led Atlanta with 19 points. The impending clash between the Timberwolves and Nuggets could potentially determine the top seed in the West, with Oklahoma City just one game behind.

Although Nuggets coach Michael Malone has emphasized the team’s health over its seeding, it’s worth noting that last year, Denver leveraged the No. 1 seed to a 10-1 home record in the playoffs en route to securing the franchise’s first NBA championship.

The Hawks aimed to bounce back from their defeat against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, but they encountered a formidable opponent in the Denver Nuggets tonight. Nikola Jokic exhibited his dominance, showcasing why he’s regarded as one of the best basketball players globally, while Denver underscored their status as contenders for the championship and potential NBA title defense.

Despite demonstrating strong defensive performances in recent games, the Hawks struggled to contain the Nuggets’ offense tonight. Atlanta conceded a staggering 142 points and allowed Denver to shoot over 60% from the field. Jokic effortlessly secured yet another triple-double, and Denver saw six players scoring in double digits. The game lacked competitiveness from the start, as the Nuggets asserted their dominance.

Atlanta now trails the Chicago Bulls by 1.5 games for the 9th spot in the Eastern Conference, which would secure them a home game in the first play-in tournament matchup. With only four games remaining, the clock is ticking for the Hawks if they aim to host the Bulls in that pivotal game.

Recapping a challenging night on the road for the Hawks, they maintained their usual starting lineup featuring Dejounte Murray, Bogdan Bogdanovic, De’Andre Hunter, Jalen Johnson, and Clint Capela. On the other hand, the Nuggets, missing Aaron Gordon, fielded Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Michael Porter Jr., Christian Braun, and Nikola Jokic.

Although the Hawks initially matched the Nuggets’ intensity during the first six minutes of the opening quarter, the remainder of the period proved to be an offensive struggle for Atlanta.