NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Nikola Jokic scored 22 of his 29 points in the second half of a game in which he had a triple-double as the Denver Nuggets beat the underdog New Orleans Pelicans 116-105 on Friday night.
The Serbian also added 13 rebounds and 10 assists. In a close first half, he had only seven points, and the Nuggets led 50-48 at halftime.
But in the first 11 minutes of the second half, last season’s MVP contributed 16 points, hitting three of his four 3-pointers in that stretch.
Denver extended the lead to 86-78 early in the fourth quarter and never lost it. He led by 16 points when Bryn Forbes hit a 3-pointer that made it 103-87 midway through the period.
Forbes totaled 14 points.
Aaron Gordon scored 20 for the Nuggets, who won their fourth straight game and their fifth of the last six.
Also for Denver, Argentina’s Facundo Campazzo scored three points and provided an assist.
