Nuggets 104, Pelicans 91: Jokic's 200th triple-double and a fast start sink winless New Orleans
Denver led 37-18 after one quarter, never trailed, and swept the two-game series with just nine players available.
Nikola Jokic recorded his 200th career regular-season triple-double as the Denver Nuggets beat the New Orleans Pelicans 104-91 on Wednesday night, the Associated Press reports. Denver never trailed and completed a two-game sweep of the home-and-home series.
The early gap
The game was largely settled in the first quarter. Jamal Murray made his first three shots, all from three-point range, and Denver shot 62% in the opening period to lead 37-18, per the AP. Marvin Bagley's runner pushed the lead to its largest, 44-22, with about nine minutes left in the second quarter.
New Orleans made one real push. Zion Williamson hit a fourth-quarter three-pointer that cut the margin to 88-83, but Murray answered with a three and a driving finger roll to restore a 10-point lead. The Pelicans finished 7 of 30 from three-point range (23.3%), while Denver made 12 of 31 (39%) and shot 46% overall.
The numbers
Jokic finished with 21 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. The AP notes he is only the second player in NBA history to reach 200 regular-season triple-doubles, and that he needs 10 more to pass Russell Westbrook, who retired after last season, for the league lead. Murray scored 23, Aaron Gordon had 15 points and 11 rebounds, Christian Braun added 15 and Trevon Brazile 11.
For New Orleans, Williamson led all scorers with 25 points. Derik Queen had 11 points and 12 rebounds and Jeremiah Fears scored 11. Beyond Williamson, the AP's account lists no Pelican above those totals.
Context for both sides
Denver played short-handed. The AP reports the Nuggets used only nine players, with Cam Johnson (ankle) and Alpha Diallo (sprained wrist) out and Julian Strawther and Spencer Jones also unavailable. That makes a wire-to-wire win on the road more notable; Denver also won Saturday's game in Denver after overcoming a 23-point deficit, per the AP.
The Pelicans are 0-4 under first-year coach Jamahl Mosley. The first-quarter hole was too large to close even with Williamson's late burst, and the long-range shooting gap, 12 of 31 against 7 of 30, was the clearest statistical difference between the teams in the AP's account.
What's next
Denver visits Phoenix on Friday in an NBA Cup group-stage opener. New Orleans hosts Sacramento on Thursday.