Nikola Jokic had a triple-double as the visiting Denver Nuggets won their fourth game in a row by defeating the New Orleans Pelicans 116-105 on Friday night.
Jokic finished with 29 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists as the Nuggets improved to 3-0 on a six-game road trip. Aaron Gordon scored 20 points, Bryn Forbes added 14, Monte Morris had 13, Austin Rivers 12 and Zeke Nnaji 11 for Denver, which has won nine of its last 12 games.
Herbert Jones scored 19 points, Willy Hernangomez added 18 points and 16 rebounds, Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 18, Josh Hart had 16, Devonte’ Graham 15 and Jaxson Hayes 13 to lead the Pelicans.
The Nuggets made 12 of 33 3-pointers and New Orleans made 5 of 34.
Hart scored seven of the Pelicans’ first nine points in the third quarter as they pulled even at 59.
Jokic scored seven points as the Nuggets took a 71-63 lead midway through the quarter.
New Orleans got within four before Denver rebuilt the lead to 86-78 at the end of the period.
Bones Hyland started the fourth-quarter scoring with a 3-pointer and Nnaji followed with a layup that gave the Nuggets a 91-78 lead.
The Pelicans trimmed the lead to nine before Forbes made a 3-pointer that extended the Nuggets’ lead to 103-87 midway through the quarter.
New Orleans crept within six points on Alexander-Walker’s 3-pointer with 1:50 left, but Jokic answered with a put-back.
The Nuggets took a 26-17 lead at the end of the first quarter after the Pelicans scored just eight points in the final eight minutes. Gordon scored nine points and New Orleans made just 1 of 13 3-pointers.
The Pelicans started the second quarter with a 12-2 run, but Rivers made two 3-pointers to help Denver open a 39-31 lead midway through the period.
Jokic went to the bench for the rest of the quarter after committing his third foul with 3:49 left in the quarter.
Jones scored nine of the Pelicans’ last 15 points as they closed within 50-48 at halftime.
–Field Level Media
