NEW ORLEANS — In an exciting overtime matchup on Sunday evening, Nikola Jokic bounced back from a sluggish start to secure his ninth triple-double of the season, leading the Denver Nuggets to a 132-129 victory against the New Orleans Pelicans. Jokic ended the game with an impressive stat line of 27 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists.

After not scoring in the first 21 minutes, Jokic found his rhythm and helped propel his team forward. Jamal Murray also made significant contributions, totaling 27 points, including the final five points of overtime. Russell Westbrook added to the score with 21 points for the Pelicans.

Regulation saw the Pelicans in a favorable position, holding a 107-98 advantage with just over seven minutes remaining. However, Jokic was instrumental in a quick turnaround, scoring seven points during a crucial 15-2 run by the Nuggets that shifted the lead to 113-109. In a nail-biting finish, CJ McCollum gave New Orleans a brief lead with a three-pointer, but Murray equalized with a basket in the closing seconds, sending the game to overtime after McCollum’s last-second shot missed.

In overtime, Jokic wasted no time asserting his dominance, scoring the first six points and assisting on an Aaron Gordon layup that pushed Denver ahead 129-125. For the Pelicans, Jordan Hawkins was the standout player, contributing 25 points, while McCollum finished with 24.

The Nuggets’ head coach, Mike Malone, emphasized the importance of intensity moving forward, particularly after a period of inconsistent play for his team. “We’ve had a Club Med vacation schedule the last two weeks… and now we start five games in five nights,” Malone noted, highlighting the challenge the upcoming games would present to his squad.

For the Pelicans, their struggles continued with this loss being their 16th in their last 17 games. However, they did manage to record a season-high 37 assists, with 15 coming from Dejounte Murray, indicating a positive aspect to build on.

A noteworthy moment in the game occurred when Jamal Murray, following a missed layup, regathered the rebound and scored to extend the lead to 129-125. In an interesting statistic, Jokic recorded his first points with two free throws just before halftime, ending the half with six points, five rebounds, and six assists.

Looking ahead, the Nuggets will take on the Phoenix Suns at home on Monday night, while the Pelicans are set to host the Houston Rockets on Thursday night.