Nikola Jokic recorded 21 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for his 200th career regular-season triple-double, and the Denver Nuggets never trailed in a 104-91 victory over the winless New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night.
Jamal Murray scored 23 points, and Aaron Gordon added 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Nuggets, who swept the two-game, home-and-home series with New Orleans.
After overcoming a 23-point deficit to beat the Pelicans in Denver on Saturday, the Nuggets raced to a 22-point lead in the first half this time and maintained a comfortable margin for most of the game.
Zion Williamson scored 25 points for the Pelicans, hitting a fourth-quarter three-pointer that cut New Orleans’ deficit to 88-83. Murray responded with a three-pointer and a driving finger roll to push the Nuggets’ lead back to 10.
Jokic Closes In On Westbrook’s Record
Jokic needs 10 more regular-season triple-doubles to overtake Russell Westbrook, who retired after last season, as the NBA’s leader. Westbrook reached 200 triple-doubles in his 1,175th game, while Jokic reached the milestone in his 814th. They are the only two players in NBA history to surpass 200.
Sixteen of Jokic’s triple-doubles have come against the Pelicans, six more than against any other opponent.
Depth Tested By Injuries
Christian Braun scored 15 points and Trevon Brazile added 11 for Denver, which entered the game with several injuries and used just nine players.
Derik Queen recorded 11 points and 12 rebounds, and Jeremiah Fears scored 11 points for the Pelicans, who are 0-4 under first-year coach Jamahl Mosley.
Murray made his first three shots, all from beyond the arc, and Denver shot 62% in the first quarter while building a 37-18 lead. Marvin Bagley III hit a runner that gave Denver its largest lead at 44-22, with about nine minutes remaining in the second quarter.
The Pelicans struggled from the perimeter, hitting just 7 of 30 three-point attempts (23.3%).
Denver played without Cam Johnson (ankle) and Alpha Diallo (sprained wrist) and continued to be without Julian Strawther and Spencer Jones.