Nikola Jokic extends triple-double streak, Nuggets ride big third quarter to easy win over Pelicans

Bennett Durando, The Denver Post on Oct 30, 2025

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The Nuggets’ offense might be the best carnival ride in Denver.

Already averaging 130 points through three games, Nikola Jokic and company eviscerated the Pelicans with ball movement Wednesday night, piling on a 29-2 run to start the third quarter en route to a 122-88 win at Ball Arena. The rest was an encore.

Jokic went for 21 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in his fourth consecutive triple-double to start the season. Jamal Murray sprayed a barrage of 3-pointers from the same spot on the left wing during the third-quarter run. He wrapped up his night with 17 points and six assists. Neither of them played in the fourth.

The Nuggets (3-1) amassed 40 assists and won the rebounding battle by 15. They outscored their visitors 62-44 in the paint and 21-11 on fast breaks. Their bench scored 51 points, led by Tim Hardaway Jr.’s 11. Peyton Watson tallied five rebounds, five assists and three blocks, including two on the same possession in a globe-trotting five-second stretch. One was in the paint; the other out at the perimeter.

Denver’s starters needed a quick wake-up call before they took over. In one of their most peculiar second quarters in recent memory, the Nuggets outscored New Orleans 17-8 and stretched their lead to 18 in a prolonged stint without Jokic on the court — 8 minutes, 27 seconds to be exact — only to give up a 14-2 run to end the half immediately after the three-time MVP checked back in.

The result was a head-scratching 53-47 halftime edge. Aaron Gordon was the only starter with a positive plus-minus (seven). David Adelman was mirroring his minutes with Zion Williamson, similarly to how he tried to manage the previous game with Timberwolves power forward Julius Randle. Gordon proved that to be a worthwhile strategy, limiting Williamson to five points in the half on 2-of-5 shooting.

The Pelicans star finished the night with 11. Trey Murphy III and Jordan Poole were also held to a combined 3-for-19 shooting night.

Before the mini-disaster to end the half, Denver’s non-Jokic minutes were another exhibit in effective team basketball. Jonas Valanciunas scored six points on perfect shooting. Bruce Brown supplied solid defensive possessions and knocked down a 3-pointer when dared to shoot. Julian Strawther played his first rotation minutes of the season and scored twice as a cutter. He also played some pick-and-roll with Valanciunas, finding the backup big man with a clean pocket pass for a midrange jumper.

Christian Braun was also a bright spot for Denver after a slow first week, amassing 17 points and six points. His buckets included a floater out of the two-man game with Jokic — an atypical shot selection for him — and a poster dunk over Yves Missi — a highly typical shot selection for him.

Former Nugget DeAndre Jordan played his second game since signing with the Pelicans last week and was given the start in his return to Ball Arena. Jokic gave him a kiss at center-court before the opening tip then scored against him in the post on Denver’s first possession of the night. A tribute video for Jordan soon followed.