Jokic threw a party with a sensational triple-double

Nikola Jokic was once again a catalyst for the Nuggets. The Bullets trailed the Pelicans for the first half of the game, but a 36-24 deficit in the third half turned things around on the floor, eventually giving them a 122-113 win.

The Serbian center scored 26 points on 10-of-14 shooting but mostly destroyed the competition on rebounds (18) and assists (15) and served as the fulcrum around which Denver acted. Those numbers saw him hit 16 triple-doubles that season, maintaining the advantage in the regular-season MVP battle. In fact, the Nuggets have never been defeated when the “Joker” has triple digits, rebounds and assists!

Of course, Jamal Murray’s contribution was also needed to secure the result. The Canadian guard was the top scorer with 32 points from 7/12 threes (season high) for the Nuggets, who had 44% overall on 16/36 shots from perimeter while the Pelicans touched just 30% (8/27).

Williamson’s steady loss takes a lot of momentum from them, resulting in 0/8 and 3-13 in January.

THE DODECALPTA: 31-25, 57-60, 93-84, 122-113

NUGGETS: Gordon 15 (1 3-pointers, 6 rebounds, 6 assists), Porter 13 (3/6 3-pointers, 5 rebounds), Jokic 26 (18 rebounds, 15 assists), Murray 32 (7/12 3-pointers, 5 rebounds, 6 assists), Caldwell-Pope 15 (3/7 3-pts), Green 8, Nagy, Brown 7(1), Hyland 2, Brown 4

pelicans: Ingram 6 (1 3-pointers, 9 assists), Jones 21 (2/4 3-pointers, 5 steals), Valanciunas 10 (6 rebounds), McCollum 21 (2/6 3-pointers, 7 assists), Murphy 14 (1/5 3 points), Nance 13 (11 rebounds), Marshall 4, Hernangometh 6, Graham 5 (1), Alvarado 3 (1)