Bulls vs Nuggets: Denver rides Jokic triple-double to 136-120 win in Chicago

The Denver Nuggets snapped a three-game skid Saturday night, February 7, 2026 (ET), beating the Chicago Bulls 136-120 at the United Center behind another Nikola Jokic triple-double and a high-scoring backcourt performance. Denver improved to 34-19, while Chicago fell to 24-29, in a game that stayed tight for three quarters before the Nuggets broke it open late.

Denver’s offense was sharp all night, mixing paint touches with quick ball movement and timely shot-making. Chicago kept pace with hot perimeter shooting early, but a fourth-quarter collapse—just 16 points in the final period—turned a competitive game into a comfortable road win for the Nuggets.

Bulls vs Nuggets: how Denver pulled away

The turning point came after a back-and-forth third quarter. Denver entered the fourth up 97-104 and then flipped the game with a decisive closing burst, outscoring Chicago 39-16 in the final 12 minutes.

Chicago’s attack went cold as Denver tightened its rotations, cut off straight-line drives, and forced tougher looks late in the shot clock. Meanwhile, the Nuggets kept generating efficient offense through Jokic’s passing and a steady stream of perimeter creation, turning rebounds into early offense and half-court possessions into clean shots.

Quarter-by-quarter, the story was a near-even first three periods followed by a blowout finish: Denver led 39-36 after one, trailed 59-65 at halftime, edged ahead 97-104 after three, then ran away in the fourth.

Jokic and Murray set the pace

Jokic delivered 22 points, 17 assists, and 14 rebounds—his second straight triple-double—controlling the game’s tempo and repeatedly finding cutters and shooters when Chicago loaded up in the paint. The assist total was the loudest number: Denver’s offense rarely stalled because Jokic kept the ball moving to the right spots before the defense could reset.

Jamal Murray added 28 points and 11 assists, giving Denver a second playmaking engine that punished switches and late closeouts. When Chicago tried to trap or shade toward Jokic, Murray’s pull-up game and drive-and-kick reads helped Denver keep scoring without forcing isolation possessions.

Together, they produced a constant problem: defend Jokic’s playmaking and risk Murray’s rhythm, or sell out on Murray and let Jokic orchestrate. Chicago never found a stable answer, especially once Denver lifted its defensive intensity in the fourth.

Chicago’s early shooting kept it close

For much of the night, the Bulls’ perimeter accuracy allowed them to trade punches. Chicago generated long stretches of effective offense—moving the ball, spacing the floor, and hitting enough threes to offset Denver’s interior efficiency.

But the reliance on outside rhythm became a vulnerability late. When Denver’s pressure increased, Chicago’s clean catch-and-shoot looks turned into contested attempts, and the second chances that can stabilize a cold spell were harder to come by. The Bulls also struggled to convert stops into easy points, a key reason the fourth quarter swung so sharply.

What the result means in the standings

For Denver, the win steadies a stretch that had started to drift after the three-game slide. At 34-19, the Nuggets remain firmly in the West’s upper tier, and performances like this—high-efficiency offense with a late defensive clamp—are the blueprint for winning on the road.

For Chicago, dropping to 24-29 deepens the pressure around consistency. The Bulls showed they can score with elite teams for long stretches, but the fourth-quarter collapse reinforces a season-long problem: closing games when the pace slows and every possession becomes a half-court test.

What’s next and what to watch

Denver’s formula is clear: Jokic as the hub, Murray as the pressure point, and a supporting cast that can hit open shots and defend without fouling. When those pieces align, Denver can turn a close game into a runaway in minutes.

Chicago’s immediate focus is tightening late-game execution—shot quality, transition defense, and rebounding discipline—so a strong three-quarter effort doesn’t vanish in the final stretch.

Key takeaways

• Denver ended a three-game skid with a 16-point road win on Feb. 7, 2026 (ET).

• Jokic posted 22 points, 17 assists, and 14 rebounds as Denver dominated the fourth quarter 39-16.

• Chicago stayed close for three quarters but couldn’t generate offense late as Denver’s defense ramped up.

Sources consulted: Associated Press; ESPN; NBA; CBS Sports