LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Nikola Jokic bagged his fourth straight triple-double to start the National Basketball Association (NBA) season on Wednesday to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 122-88 rout of the New Orleans Pelicans.
Serbian star Jokic, a three-time NBA Most Valuable Player, joined Oscar Robertson in 1961 and Russell Westbrook in 2020 as the only players to open a season with four straight triple-doubles.
He delivered 21 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists before sitting out the fourth quarter with the game well in hand.
“I’m just trying to play the right way and I hope everything is going to come my way,” said Jokic, who with 168 career triple-doubles is third on the all-time list led by Westbrook’s 203 and Robertson’s 181.
His services weren’t even needed in the final quarter, after a 24-0 third-quarter run saw the Nuggets push their lead to as many as 36 points.
Denver improved to 3-1 as the hapless Pelicans — led by 21 points from Jeremiah Fears and with 11 from Zion Williamson--fell to 0-4.
“Even in the first half we had like a 15- 16-point lead, then we blew it,” Jokic said. “Then in the second half everything was flowing good for us, offense, defense especially.
“It was a really good third quarter and the goal is to have as much quarters like that in the future.”
Austin Reaves was the savior for the Los Angeles Lakers, driving for the game-wining basket with 1.1 seconds left in a 116-115 victory over the Timberwolves in Minnesota.