Nuggets – Pelicans 141-135
Nikola Jokić posted 35 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists as the Denver Nuggets defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 141-135.
Jokić was on the floor for 44 minutes, well above the 34.8 minutes he averaged last season. He scored 35 points, surpassing his 27.7 points per game last year, and grabbed 15 rebounds compared with 12.9 per game previously. His 10 assists were just shy of the 10.7 he averaged. He shot 12-for-23 from the field (52.2 percent), lower than his 56.9 percent field-goal rate last season, and 3-for-10 on three-pointers (30 percent) versus a 38.0 percent three-point average previously. He was perfect from the free-throw line, 8-for-8. Jokić also recorded 2 steals, 3 blocks, 6 turnovers and 5 personal fouls. While he was on the court, Denver outscored New Orleans by 11 points.
The win marked the Nuggets’ first victory after opening the season with a loss. The 6-foot-11 Denver Nuggets player helped secure a 141-135 result. New Orleans Pelicans - Denver Nuggets 135-141.