Nikola Jokic notches triple-double as Nuggets beat Pelicans in OT
Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets reacts after he is called for a foul in the second half against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on December 04, 2021 in New York City. Elsa/Getty Images/AFP
Nikola Jokic had a triple-double and scored 11 of his game-high 39 points in overtime as the visiting Denver Nuggets defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 120-114 on Wednesday night.
Jokic added 11 rebounds and 11 assists, Will Barton scored 20 points, Monte Morris added 11 and JaMychal Green and Aaron Gordon had 10 each as the Nuggets won for just the third time in 11 games.
Jonas Valanciunas led the Pelicans with 27 points and 11 rebounds, Herbert Jones Jr. scored a season-high 19, Brandon Ingram had 16, Nickeil Alexander-Walker 15 and Devonte’ Graham and Josh Hart 12 each.
🃏 39 PTS, 11 REB, 11 AST 🃏
Nikola Jokic powers the @nuggets to the overtime win with his fourth triple-double of the season! pic.twitter.com/d0HYZG15Zi
— NBA (@NBA) December 9, 2021
Pelicans backup guard Kira Lewis Jr. suffered a sprained right knee early in the second quarter, had to be helped from the court and did not return.
Jokic scored the Nuggets’ first nine points of overtime as they took a 114-109 lead.
Hart answered with a three-point play, but Jokic followed with a layup for a 116-112 lead.
Jokic missed two free throws, but Graham missed a jumper and Gordon’s two free throws gave Denver a 118-112 lead with 21.3 seconds left.
Ingram scored eight points as the Pelicans started the third quarter with a 12-2 run and took a 69-66 lead.
Jokic scored five points and Barton made a 3-pointer to help Denver grab an 80-77 lead at the end of the period.
Alexander-Walker scored seven points and Jones five to help the Pelicans take a 95-90 lead midway through the quarter.
Jokic’s basket and Morris’ three free throws tied the score at 103 with 57.6 seconds left.
A layup by Jokic and a tip-in by Valanciunas sent the game into overtime.
Barton and Jokic scored 13 points each as the Nuggets took a 35-33 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Green had six points and Bones Hyland five as Denver opened a 50-38 second-quarter lead.
Valanciunas answered with a 3-pointer before the Nuggets extended the lead to 12 points.
Jones and Valanciunas scored four points each as the Pelicans closed with 64-57 at halftime.
