Dec 22, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) blocks the shot of Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images Nikola Jokic overcame a slow start to finish with a triple-double and the visiting Denver Nuggets rebounded from a 17-point deficit to defeat the New Orleans Pelicans 132-129 in overtime Sunday night.
Jokic was scoreless until late in the second quarter but finished with 27 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, his NBA-best 11th triple-double of the season. He scored 21 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter and overtime. Jamal Murray also scored 27, while Russell Westbrook had 21, Aaron Gordon 15, Julian Strawther 13 and Christian Braun 10.
Reserve Jordan Hawkins scored a season-high 25 points, CJ McCollum had 24, rookie Yves Missi had 21, Trey Murphy III scored 21 before leaving the game for good late in the third quarter after suffering an ankle injury and Dejounte Murray had 17 points and 15 assists for the Pelicans.
Jokic scored the Nuggets’ first three baskets of overtime then assisted on Gordon’s tiebreaking basket before Jamal Murray added a layup. New Orleans got within two points twice but missed opportunities to tie when Jamal Murray made a steal and McCollum missed a jumper.
Missi had two field goals and Murphy made a 3-pointer during a 9-0 run that gave the Pelicans an 80-68 lead early in the third. New Orleans expanded the lead to 17 before Jokic made a 3-pointer and beat the buzzer with another jumper to help the Nuggets close within 93-81 at the end of the quarter.
Denver scored the first five points of the fourth before Hawkins made a 3-pointer and the Pelicans led by 10 again. Jokic’s three-point play tied the score at 107 with 5:39 left in regulation.
The score was tied again before Strawther and Braun made consecutive layups to give Denver a four-point lead.
The Pelicans took a 119-117 lead on McCollum’s 3-pointer, but Jamal Murray’s jumper with 9.4 seconds left tied the score. McCollum’s 3-pointer missed as time expired in regulation.
New Orleans held a 29-28 lead at the end of the first quarter and opened a 59-45 cushion while Jokic remained scoreless. Jokic made two free throws with 2:51 left in the second quarter for his first points.
McCollum answered with a 3-pointer before Jokic made his first two field goals to help Denver close within 67-59 at halftime.
–Field Level Media
