CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Jamal Murray scored 34 points, Nikola Jokic finished with 28 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds and the Denver Nuggets held on to defeat the Charlotte Hornets 115-106 on Sunday night to extend their franchise record to road winning streak to 10 games.
Tim Hardaway Jr. had 14 points off the bench for the Nuggets (17-6), who are off to their best start in franchise history.
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Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) brings the ball upcourt against the Charlotte Hornets during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jim Dedmon)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, second from right, shoots a jump shot over Charlotte Hornets center Mason Plumlee, front left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jim Dedmon)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, front right, passes the ball while defended by Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jim Dedmon)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray controls the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jim Dedmon)
Miles Bridges finished with 24 points while Brandon Miller added 16 for the Hornets, who played without six players due to injuries including their top two point guards, LaMelo Ball and Collin Sexton. Rookie Liam McNeeley added a boost off the bench with a career-high 13 points for the Hornets, making 4 of 5 shots from 3-point range.
Murray, who had 52 points on 10 3-pointers last week's 135-120 win over Indiana, erupted for 23 points in the first quarter Sunday but the Nuggets still trailed 58-57 at halftime.
That all changed in the second half Jokic began to take over, using his versatility to score and create for the his teammates.
The Nuggets built a 13-point lead in the fourth quarter, but the Hornets (7-17) clawed back to within seven after Miller knocked down a 3 from the wing plus the and-1 free throw to cut the lead to seven. But the Hornets weren't able to build on that momentum.
Murray finished the game 14 of 25 from the field and wasn't much of a factor in the second half with just 9 points.
Charlotte outrebounded Denver 47-35.
Bridges had nine rebounds and eight assists for the Hornets, but missed all six of his 3-point shots.
Denver: At Kings on Thursday night.
Charlotte: Host Bulls on Friday night.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) brings the ball upcourt against the Charlotte Hornets during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jim Dedmon)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, second from right, shoots a jump shot over Charlotte Hornets center Mason Plumlee, front left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jim Dedmon)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, front right, passes the ball while defended by Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jim Dedmon)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray controls the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jim Dedmon)
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Matthew Stafford dominated on the field before being serenaded with “M-V-P!” chants off of it, soaking in some locker room praise from teammates after another stellar performance that led his Los Angeles Rams to a 45-17 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
The 37-year-old quarterback has rarely looked better in his 17-year NFL career.
It's a big reason why the Rams look like one of the best teams in the league.
“That's our guy — No. 9,” receiver Puka Nacua said. “Without him, we wouldn't be operating the way we do. It's always fun when we get to show him some praise.”
Stafford threw for 281 yards and three touchdowns, Nacua and Blake Corum both scored twice and the Rams (10-3) scored 35 unanswered points to bounce back from last week's turnover-filled loss to Carolina. Los Angeles won for the seventh time in eight games to stay tied with Seattle atop the NFC West, one game ahead of San Francisco.
“It's fun — they're great teammates,” Stafford said of the “M-V-P!” chants. “Only reason anyone is saying something like that about me is because of those guys. I'm appreciative — I love going to work with them.”
The reeling Cardinals (3-10) have lost five straight and 10 of 11.
Los Angeles fell into an early 7-0 hole but rallied for a 24-10 lead by halftime, scoring just before the break on a beautiful 28-yard throw over the middle from Stafford to Nacua, who had six catches for 136 yards in the first half. The Rams also scored on a pair of 2-yard runs — one each by Kyren Williams and Corum.
Los Angeles piled up 306 yards in the first half and finished with 530. Stafford completed 22 of 31 passes, including a few in tight windows that only a handful of QBs in the league would even think of trying to make.
“I thought Matthew was outstanding," Rams coach Sean McVay said. “He was great — thought he saw the field really well. He threw the ball with accuracy and anticipation.”
McVay had a rough week, missing some preparation time on Friday and Saturday because of an illness. You could never tell by the way the Rams played on Sunday.
Los Angeles capped its offensive onslaught with two straight touchdowns on the first plays of drives.
Nate Landman intercepted Jacoby Brissett's pass late in the third and the Rams scored on the next play when Stafford hit Nacua for a 31-yard touchdown and a 38-10 lead. On LA's next possession, Corum eluded the Cardinals' flat-footed defense for a 48-yard TD run to make it 45-10.
Nacua had 167 yards receiving and Corum had 128 yards rushing.
“Give credit to LA,” Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon said. “They were better than us in every facet of the game — coaching, playing, offense, defense, special teams. That was very humbling. At one point, it's 10-10, and then you look up and you're down a lot of points quick.”
The injury-depleted Cardinals took a 7-0 lead less than three minutes into the game after a crisp, five-play, 67-yard drive that ended with Brissett's 19-yard touchdown pass to Michael Wilson.
Wilson caught 11 passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns. Brissett — starting his eighth straight game in place of injured starter Kyler Murray — completed 25 of 44 passes for 271 yards, two TDs and an interception.
Trey McBride had five catches for 58 yards. It was his 15th straight game with at least five catches, tying the league record for a tight end set by Travis Kelce.
Arizona suffered another lopsided loss at the hands of a division rival. The Cardinals were thumped by the Seahawks 44-22 in Week 10 and lost to the 49ers 41-22 in Week 11.
The Rams have won 15 of their past 18 against the Cardinals.
Rams: CB Darious Williams (tibia) was one of five inactives.
Cardinals: CB Max Melton (heel), WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel), RB Emari Demercado (ankle), S Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (ankle), WR Xavier Weaver (hamstring) and DL Walter Nolen III (knee) were among a long list of players who missed the game because of injuries. ... DL Bilal Nichols (knee) left in the second quarter and didn't return. ... LT Paris Johnson Jr. (knee) left in the third and didn't return. ... S Jalen Thompson (hamstring) left in the fourth and didn't return.
Rams: Host the Detroit Lions next Sunday.
Cardinals: At the Houston Texans next Sunday.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams, left, celebrates after scoring a touchdown with quarterback Matthew Stafford, right, in the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams celebrates after running for a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker looks on in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson, left, avoids Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker after pulling in a pass in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, left, reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford passes the ball in the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
