Nikola Jokic climbs all-time triple-double list as Nuggets rally from down 20 against Pelicans

Led by an all-time great basketball player ascending in the history books and a fresh-faced rookie climbing a scorebook for the first time, the Nuggets mounted a comeback thrilling enough to let fans forget about who was missing for a couple of hours.

Nikola Jokic registered his 108th career triple-double in his 604th game, Julian Strawther caught fire for 21 crucial points, and the Nuggets rallied from a 20-point deficit to beat the Pelicans 134-116 on Monday night at Ball Arena.

“That 20-point lead could have gone to 30, but we kind of got back in the game prior to halftime,” coach Michael Malone said. “… This was a team win.”

Denver (7-1) remains perfect at home this season with the Warriors coming to town Wednesday. Starting point guard Jamal Murray (right hamstring strain) is expected to miss that game and longer, but the Nuggets found a way to play pristine offensive basketball in their first contest without him. They had 37 assists and just nine turnovers, going on a 93-55 run to end the game.

The New Orleans lead was 12 when the second half started, but Denver demolished the visitors for the entire third quarter, 40-21. Jokic bulldozed Jordan Hawkins in transition, then spun and scored while getting fouled to give the Nuggets an 81-80 lead with 4:32 remaining in the frame. The crowd reached a crescendo even though Denver was still early in a 16-2 run.

With a triple-double by the end of the quarter, Jokic passed LeBron James and Jason Kidd for fourth in NBA history. Next up on the all-time list is Magic Johnson (137). He finished with 35 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists.

“It’s hard to say he’s gotten better because he’s been so great for so long,” Malone said. “But what I see from him, and where he has grown and improved, is his presence. Him being in the moment. Him being emotionally invested in his teammates.”

And when Jokic took a much-needed breather in the fourth, Strawther had his back. The rookie out of Gonzaga shot 8 for 13 from the field and 5 for 9 from three, and he wasn’t afraid to hype up the crowd while scoring 12 in the fourth quarter.

“If I’m gonna get put in the game, I’ve gotta make shots,” Strawther said. “That’s what the team expects of me. That’s what coach expects of me.”

Michael Porter Jr. added 22 points and nine rebounds for Denver. Aaron Gordon had 15 points and 12 assists.

While Jokic thrived, the Pelicans’ superstar was contained. This was Zion Williamson’s first time playing in front of a real crowd at Ball Arena. Since he was drafted in 2019, the Nuggets and Pelicans had played 10 times. He was active for five of those games, two of them in Denver — both during spring of 2021, when fan attendance was restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The last time he played at all in Denver, on April 28, 2021, the game ended with Jokic blocking his game-tying shot attempt at the rim. This time, Gordon and Peyton Watson led the charge in bottling him up. Williamson finished with 20 points on 22 shots.

Denver’s first-half flaw was its inferior depth. Coach Michael Malone was forced to get more creative with his lineups without Murray, and the Nuggets’ shots didn’t fall. They ended the first quarter with eight of their 11 made baskets assisted, 16 of their points in the paint and only one turnover. But into the second stanza, the Pelicans opened up a 61-41 lead by making 10 of their first 14 3s. Meanwhile, Denver started 2 for 15.