DENVER Nuggets center Nikola Jokic goes to the basket against New Orleans Pelicans center Jahlil Okafor during the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans. The Nuggets won 105-99. AP

NEW ORLEANS — The generally unselfish, fundamentally sound and versatile Nikola Jokic did precisely what Denver Nuggets coach Mike Malone wanted with the game in the balance.

He imposed his will with a pair of powerful, driving reverse layups that prevented the undermanned but scrappy Pelicans from pulling off a second straight victory over a contending team.

Jokic finished with 20 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for his eighth triple-double this season and also blocked two shots to lead the Nuggets past the Pelicans, 105-99 on Wednesday night.

“Everybody knows where the ball is going and Nikola Jokic is out closer — and that’s what you want from your franchise player, your All-Star, your MVP, whatever you want to call him — down the stretch, give him the ball and let him make plays,” Malone said.

“He wants it. He has the confidence and he’s been delivering, which is the best thing about it.”

Malik Beasley scored 22 points, and Monte Morris added 20 to help the Northwest Division-leading Nuggets win their fourth straight.

Kenrich Williams hit five of nine three-point shots and scored a career-high 21 for the scrappy Pelicans.

For the second night in a row, they played without four usual starters and a top reserve. Their only available starter, Jrue Holiday, had 22 points, including a step-back, straight-on trey that cut Denver’s lead to 100-99 with 1:32 left.

That’s when Jokic, branded as “The Joker” by fans and media, responded with reverse layups while guarded by Jahlil Okafor to make it 104-99 with 42 seconds left.

“If they trust me, I’m going to try my best to score,” Jokic said.

After trailing 56-53 at halftime, Denver opened the third quarter with a 13-2 run during which Will Barton scored all eight of his points on three driving layups — each while being fouled.

But while the Nuggets led for good after that and went up by as many as 11 points, the Pelicans kept the gap in single digits for most of the second half as they attempted to build on their stunning victory at Houston on Tuesday night.

“You can see what kind of player Jokic is. When they needed baskets, they went to him,” Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said.