Denver Nuggets middle Nikola Jokic, proper, drives previous New Orleans Pelicans ahead Larry Nance Jr., left, within the first half of an NBA basketball sport Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in Denver. (AP Picture/David Zalubowski)
DENVER — Nikola Jokic notched his 108th triple-double with 35 factors, 14 rebounds and 12 assists, and the Denver Nuggets overcame a 20-point, first-half deficit to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 134-116 on Monday night time.
Jokic broke a tie with LeBron James and Jason Kidd to maneuver into fourth place in triple-doubles. He trails Magic Johnson by 30 for third.
Denver rookie Julian Strawther scored a career-high 21 factors off the bench to assist overcome the absence of Jamal Murray, who will miss a number of video games with a proper hamstring damage.
“His damage will not be one- or two-game damage,” coach Michael Malone stated. “That’s what I do know. That is one thing that can be longer than we want.”
The Joker placed on a MASTERCLASS efficiency within the @nuggets win over the Pelicans 🃏
🔥31 PTS
🔥14 REB
🔥12 AST pic.twitter.com/TxtvtaqkZg
— NBA (@NBA) November 7, 2023
Strawther scored simply 20 factors in 5 video games and had been used principally in rubbish time earlier than being thrust into significant minutes Monday. He responded by hitting 5 of 9 of his 3-point makes an attempt.
“It’s a kind of issues to remain prepared,” Strawther stated. “You already know there’s minutes up for grabs, we don’t know the place they had been going to go.”
He scored 12 of his factors in simply 5 minutes, 31 seconds, within the fourth quarter.
“After the primary two go in it’s like, ‘What number of are you able to make?’” Strawther stated. “There are a bunch of men on this group which have that type of mentality. They see the ball go in and it’s over after that.”
Michael Porter Jr. had 22 factors and 9 rebounds, whereas Aaron Gordon completed with 15 factors and 12 rebounds for the Nuggets.
New Orleans rookie Jordan Hawkins, beginning for CJ McCollum, set a profession greatest with 31 factors on 7-for-14 capturing from 3-point vary. Zion Williamson added 20 factors, 10 rebounds and 9 assists, and Brandon Ingram had 22 factors for the Pelicans.
“He’s fearless,” Pelicans coach Willie Inexperienced stated of Hawkins. “When he’s open he’s going to shoot it. He’s aggressive and the fantastic thing about it’s Brandon, Z, all of his teammates are searching for him.”
McCollum was dominated out Sunday after an MRI revealed he had suffered a collapsed lung and can seemingly miss a number of video games.
“We don’t suppose it’s too unhealthy, however we now have to run extra assessments and see the place we’re after,” Inexperienced stated.
The Pelicans, on the energy of capturing 10 of 17 from 3-point vary, led 61-41 late within the second interval however had been outscored 46-19 spanning the second and third quarters. Denver led 90-82 after Jokic fed Collin Gillespie on a 3-pointer to present the two-time MVP the triple-double.
“We all know who we’re, we all know what we’re able to,” stated Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who completed with 15 factors. “We simply turned it up within the third quarter and acquired the lead again.”
It was a six-point lead after Hawkins made a 3-pointer halfway by means of the fourth interval, however Strawther scored 5 factors and Gordon dunked to present Denver a 113-100 lead. New Orleans reduce it to seven, however Jokic sealed the win when he fed Porter on an alley-oop to make it 121-108.
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Pelicans: Proceed their three-game street at Minnesota on Wednesday night time.
Nuggets: Host Golden State on Wednesday night time.