Nuggets show promise early behind historic start from Nikola Jokić
- Victoria Hernandez
- 3 minutes ago
- 4 min read
DENVER — It's only four games into the season, but the Denver Nuggets (3-1) have a massive amount of momentum on their side. On Wednesday night, they handily defeated the New Orleans Pelicans (0-4) 122-88 in front of their adoring fans at a packed Ball Arena.
Nikola Jokić continues his historic streak by starting the season with four triple-doubles. He ended the midweek game as the Nuggets' leading scorer with 21 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. He is tied for the most triple-doubles to start a season with Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson, who did so to open the 1961-1962 season, and fellow MVP Russell Westbrook, who captured four to start the 2020-2021 campaign.
If Jokić racks up his fifth-straight triple-double on Friday against the Portland Trail Blazers, he will stand alone with the record.
When asked how his game seems so effortless, the three-time MVP responded with his usual humility.
"It's not effortless. I think we need to stop saying that," Jokić remarked. "I'm still running like other guys. ... Sometimes just the game goes my way and I have a good night like today. I think it was an okay night, a decent night, whatever, a good night for me. So hopefully it's going to be like that in the future."
Jamal Murray and Christian Braun each added 17 points for the Nuggets. Murray had a flurry of three treys in the third quarter that helped push Denver to the finish line.
The Nuggets have had three different leading scorers in their first four games, including Jokić's outing. Denver got a whopping 50 points from Aaron Gordon in an overtime loss to Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors. Murray led the team twice with 23 points to beat the Phoenix Suns and then he went off for 43 points to top the Anthony Edwards-less Minnesota Timberwolves.
Other teams have struggled early with their star players out due to injury — the Timberwolves, the Boston Celtics without Jayson Tatum, the Indiana Pacers don't have Tyrese Haliburton, and the Pelicans were almost without Zion Williamson on Wednesday. But even though Jokić is the clear star, Denver is well-balanced, staying healthy and sharing the ball well.
Head coach David Adelman pointed out that he was impressed by his team's 40 assists. He also appreciated their grit to finish the game strong after allowing the Pelicans to notch 12 straight points at the end of the third quarter and bring the score within six. He shouted out third-year player Julian Strawther, who had six points in four and a half minutes of play, as someone who has done a good job stepping up.
"You gotta stay ready and we have a lot of good players, so when it's your chance, take advantage of it," Adelman told media after the game. "I thought Julian did and it's good. It's not about him making shots, but how he plays. His mentality of being ready, playing at the same pace and professionalism as the other guys and playing like (them), that's really important."
Braun, who is averaging 12.5 points per game, was lighthearted in his post-game press conference and spoke on how the team's depth is helpful.
"We've got a lot of guys that can really, really play. We've known that. We knew that in the summer. But it's really good when Jok can get some rest. I don't need it. I'm still younger," the 24-year-old laughed. "But it's good when Jok and Jamal can kind of sit out and rest and Aaron too."
DeAndre Jordan Receives Warm Welcome in Return to Denver
DeAndre Jordan played his first game back in the Mile High City after signing a reported 1-year deal with the Pelicans the day of their season opener. The center played three seasons with the Nuggets and won the 2023 NBA Finals with them.
"It's definitely some emotions for sure," Jordan told media ahead of the game. "I spent three years here, it was great. My teammates, coaches, everything, the fans were amazing. So there's definitely some stuff running through right now, coming in, seeing the locker room, the banner again was great to see. I owe a lot to Denver and the city and the fans and my teammates."
The Nuggets celebrated Jordan during a timeout in the first quarter with a video montage of his highlights. He waved toward the crowd of a reported 19,000 fans, who greeted him with loud cheers.
Braun beamed while discussing the 18-year veteran's impact on the team. Early in the game, he pondered attempting a dunk against the big man and regretted not taking the chance.
"He's amazing. Just to see him, he was so good for us for so long," he said. "He was so good for me and my family, just the way he treated, whether it was my brothers, my mom and dad, he was awesome."
Adelman also shared his sentiments on what Jordan means to him and the Nuggets. He was an assistant coach during their championship run before taking the reins toward the end of last season.
"DJ was a huge part of what we had here, his presence, his attitude will never be forgotten in the city," the coach said. "Part of something really special that year, '23. He's been with us, he was with us through a lot of success. So anytime you see any of those guys, you're kind of binded from that season. You're brothers with these guys the rest of your life because you did something that's so incredibly hard to do."