Nikola Jokic posts his 35th triple-double as the Nuggets beat the Trail Blazers 128-112

DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic recorded his 35th triple-double of the season and both he and Jamal Murray scored 22 points Sunday when the Denver Nuggets celebrated the return of Peyton Watson by cooling off the Portland Trail Blazers 128-112.

Jokic had 22 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists. Cam Johnson added 19 points as the Nuggets stopped Portland's three-game winning streak, all on the road.

Deni Avdija led the Trail Blazers with 23 points and Donovan Clingan added 18 for Portland, which never led in the last of a five-game trip.

Watson, who hadn't played since Feb. 4 due to a hamstring injury, scored 14 points in just under 20 minutes. He was one of seven Nuggets to score in double figures.

The 6-foot-8 guard was averaging almost 15 points when he got hurt six weeks ago, and coach David Adelman said before tip-off that the minutes of his “high-level wing defender” and precision passer will be restricted as he works his way back into the rotation.

Both teams were torrid to start the matinee with each shooting 7 for 10 from 3-point range in the first six-plus minutes and both the Blazers and Nuggets hitting better than 70% of their shots.

Murray and Johnson both hit four 3-pointers for Denver before halftime, and Clingan did the same for Portland, which trailed 75-69 at the break.

The Nuggets began to pull away when Jokic, Aaron Gordon (15 points) and Johnson all swished 3s during an 11-0 run that gave Denver an 88-74 lead midway through the third quarter.

Jokic turned the ball over five times — half the number he had in a loss at Memphis on Wednesday night.

Trail Blazers: Return home to host the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night.

Nuggets: Visit the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara (33) argues after he was called for a foul in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, front, juggles the ball as Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara, left, defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) drives the lane as Denver Nuggets forward Cameron Johnson (23) defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, right, drives past Portland Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday, left, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

MADRID (AP) — Álvaro Arbeloa confirmed what many soccer fans in Spain had taken for granted for weeks — he won’t be Real Madrid’s coach beyond the final game of the season on Saturday.

When asked in a press conference Friday if the game against Athletic Bilbao would be his last, Arbeloa said “yes.”

Arbeloa had been widely expected to be on his way out after he was unable to steer the team to a title this season following his promotion from the club’s reserve team in January to replace the fired Xabi Alonso.

Madrid lost to a second-division opponent in the Copa del Rey in Arbeloa’s debut. It then exited the Champions League quarterfinals to Bayern Munich, and will finish second in La Liga to Barcelona.

It was assumed that unless the team did spectacularly well under Arbeloa that he would be an interim coach until the club could find a better option in the offseason.

And so it is playing out, with Spanish media rife with reports that Madrid is seriously considering bringing back José Mourinho for a second stint 13 years after he coached the club.

Mourinho has coached Benfica this campaign but recently said he will decide his future soon.

Arbeloa, 43, said that he is will seek “new challenges” after having learned from his first major coaching job.

“I have already made the leap, improved greatly over these four months, and I feel prepared for new challenges,” Arbeloa said. “Starting Monday, I will think about them.”

Saturday will also be the last game for veteran defenders Dani Carvajal and David Alaba, whose contracts are about to expire.

Right back Carvajal, 34, has helped Madrid win six Champions League titles since 2013, while the 33-year-old Alaba contributed in two of those European Cup conquests since arriving in 2021.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Real Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa and Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick give instructions to the players, during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, May 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Real Madrid's head coach Alvaro Arbeloa prior the Spanish La Liga soccer match against Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville, Spain, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)