By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After digging their way out of a 17-point hole, the Denver Nuggets prevailed, 132-129, against the New Orleans Pelicans in Smoothie King Center on Sunday.
The Nuggets trailed by a margin of nine points midway through the fourth quarter before storming back to force overtime and eventually improve to 15-11 in the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season.
“It seems we like it that way,” Nikola Jokic said of the team’s approach, which led to large deficits in several games, “We should be more hungry, let’s say it like that.”
The latest triple-double by the Serbian superstar consisted of 27 points, 13 rebounds, and ten assists. Overcoming a slow start and failing to score in the first 21 minutes, he put in 13 points between the fourth period and the extra five minutes. The Joker ended up with 11/20 field goals, including two triples. He added one steal and one block over 42 minutes.
“It’s like a dream come true playing these guys,” Pelicans rookie Yves Missi referred to Jokic after putting up 21 points in the latest edition of NBA Sundays.
Croatian Dario Saric recovered from a left ankle sprain but did not play for the team coached by Michael Malone. In contrast, Slovenian Vlatko Cancar stayed on the injury list, rehabbing from surgery in his left knee.
On the opposite end, German Daniel Theis returned to action with three points, three rebounds, and two assists. Croatian Karlo Matkovic remained sidelined with a low back disc protrusion.