The Nuggets didn’t have a very merry Christmas, but they at least salvaged a happy new year. In their first game of 2025, they picked up their third consecutive win, 139-120 over the Hawks, by pulling away in a 41-24 third quarter when a dose of defense was desperately needed.

After playing big minutes in three games in four nights, Nikola Jokic decided to get his triple-double accomplished early Wednesday night.