Nikola Jokic Makes History Again as Nuggets Demolish Pelicans 122-88

There are moments in basketball that make you stop and appreciate greatness unfolding before your eyes. Wednesday night at Ball Arena was one of those moments.

Nikola Jokic casually tossed up another triple-double—his fourth consecutive game starting the season with double digits in points, rebounds, and assists. The Serbian center finished with 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists in just 28 minutes of work as the Denver Nuggets steamrolled the New Orleans Pelicans 122-88. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, Jokic was already planted on the bench, his work done for the evening.

Joining Legendary Company

The big man didn’t just pad his stats. He etched his name alongside NBA royalty. Nikola Jokic became only the third player in league history to open a season with four straight triple-doubles, joining Oscar Robertson (1961-62) and Russell Westbrook (2020-21). That’s the kind of company that makes you pause and realize you’re watching something special.

With 168 career triple-doubles now under his belt, Nikola Jokic continues to redefine what’s possible from the center position. His court vision rivals elite point guards, his basketball IQ is off the charts, and he makes the game look effortless in a way few players ever have.

“I think it seems like a little bit of European style—whoever gets going, he’s going to play, you know? Whoever is going to have a good game, he’s going to continue to play,” Jokic said postgame when asked about head coach David Adelman’s rotation strategy.

That unselfish mindset defines Jokic. He’s not hunting triple-doubles. He’s hunting wins. The individual accolades just happen to pile up along the way.

A Dominant Third Quarter Sealed It

If there was any doubt about the outcome, the Nuggets erased it with a suffocating 24-0 run in the third quarter. The Pelicans, already struggling to find an offensive rhythm, completely unraveled. Denver’s defense clamped down, forcing tough shots and creating transition opportunities that Jokic orchestrated with surgical precision.

By the time the run concluded, the Nuggets had built a commanding 33-point cushion. The game was over. The only question left was whether Nikola Jokic would see the fourth quarter. He didn’t need to.

Jamal Murray and Christian Braun each chipped in 17 points, providing steady support while Jokic conducted the symphony. The Nuggets shot an impressive 53.3% from the field and dished out 40 assists as a team. That ball movement, that unselfishness, that flow—it all starts with number 15.

Pelicans Continue Rough Start

For New Orleans, this was another brutal chapter in what’s shaping up to be a difficult season. The Pelicans fell to 0-4 for the first time since the 2019-20 campaign, and the offensive struggles were glaring. They shot just 37.6% from the field and a dismal 20.6% from beyond the arc.

Zion Williamson returned after missing the previous game with a bone bruise in his left foot, but managed only 11 points. The star forward looked tentative, clearly not at full strength. Rookie Jeremiah Fears provided a bright spot with a season-high 21 points, showing flashes of promise despite the lopsided scoreline.

Still, the Pelicans couldn’t match Denver’s intensity or execution. They were outrebounded 62-48, outassisted 40-17, and outplayed in virtually every facet of the game. Against a team firing on all cylinders like the Nuggets, those margins are impossible to overcome.

Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets Are Rolling

Denver is now averaging 128.3 points per game through four contests, with Nikola Jokic putting up absurd numbers: 20.3 points, 14.5 rebounds, and 11.3 assists per game while shooting 57.1% from the field. Those aren’t video game stats. That’s real life.

The scary part? He’s doing it without breaking a sweat. The reigning three-time MVP is playing chess while everyone else plays checkers, dissecting defenses with no-look passes, crafting scoring opportunities out of thin air, and making the complicated look simple.

As the Nuggets continue their push toward another deep playoff run, nights like Wednesday serve as reminders of why Nikola Jokic remains the most unique and unstoppable force in basketball. History will remember these triple-doubles. Denver fans are just grateful they get to witness them in real time.