Nikola Jokic scored 55 points as the Nuggets beat the Clippers for their sixth straight win

ENGLEWOOD, Calif. – Nikola Jokic had 55 points, breaking the NBA’s top scoring performance this season, and 12 rebounds to lead the Denver Nuggets short-handed Los Angeles Clippers to a 130-116 win on Wednesday night for their sixth straight win.

Oklahoma City star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 55 in a double-overtime game at Indiana on Oct. 23.

Jokic scored 25 of Denver’s 39 points in the first quarter. He had eight in the second before coming back with 19 in the third. He sat out much of the fourth before scoring a three-pointer to finish his night on 18-of-23 from the field. He missed his league-leading six triple-doubles with six assists. The Serbian big man was 5 of 6 on 3-pointers and made 14 of 16 free throws.

James Harden scored 23 points — making all 10 of his free throws — and had eight rebounds and five assists to lead the spiraling Clippers, who suffered a major blow earlier in the day when they learned Bradley Beal will miss the rest of the season with a ruptured hip. They are currently without Kawhi Leonard, who has a sprained ankle and foot.

Jordan Miller added a career-high 22 points off the bench and Ivica Zubac had 18 as Los Angeles lost its sixth straight to fall to 3-8.

Despite Jokic’s impressive scoring, the Clippers kept it close in the first half. After being down 10 in the opening quarter, they led by 10 and led 68-63 at halftime.

Jokic finished in third, twice compiling personal runs of six straight points. The Nuggets lead 106-90 going into the quarter.

Nuggets: Saturday night at Minnesota.

Clippers: Friday night in the NBA Cup game at Dallas to open a seven-game road trip.