Nuggets MVP Nikola Jokic Rebukes Booing Fans, Declaring Them Unwelcome After Overtime Comeback

DENVER — Nikola Jokic delivered another standout performance, leading the short‑handed Denver Nuggets back from a 23‑point deficit to defeat the New Orleans Pelicans 141‑135 in overtime Saturday night. After the game, Jokic turned his attention to the crowd at Ball Arena, delivering a stern rebuke to fans who had booed the team early in the contest.

Speaking at his postgame news conference, the Nuggets’ MVP criticized supporters who voiced their displeasure during the first half of the home‑opener. Denver trailed 53‑30 in the second quarter and entered halftime down 73‑57 before mounting a dramatic rally.

“We got booed at our first home game, and I think those fans who booed us, they don’t need to come anymore,” Jokic said. “If you guys follow us, you know that we never quit and we’ve come back from much worse situations. So, if they ask me, they are not welcome anymore.”

Jokic finished with 35 points, eight of them in overtime, along with 15 rebounds and 10 assists. The performance marked his 199th career triple‑double in the regular season, placing him second behind Russell Westbrook, who retired with 209.

When asked about the slow start, Jokic admitted he could not fully explain Denver’s early struggles. “It was just, you know, nothing goes your way, they’re making shots and you’re not making shots,” he explained. “It was just bad energy and it needs a couple of minutes to go by so you can get out of it.”

Jamal Murray poured in a game‑high 42 points, while rookie Trevon Brazile contributed 17 points, seven of them in overtime. Brazile’s corner three with 1:25 remaining gave the Nuggets a 133‑129 lead they never relinquished.

Denver was missing several players for the contest, including Cam Johnson (ankle) and Alpha Diallo (sprained wrist). The injury list also continued to include Julian Strawther and Spencer Jones.

For New Orleans, Trey Murphy III led the scoring with 26 points. Dejounte Murray added 22 points, and Derik Queen and Zion Williamson each posted 17 points. The Pelicans have lost their first three games under newly hired coach Jamahl Mosley.

On a brighter note for the Pelicans, center Yves Missi’s knee injury sustained in Friday’s game in Utah was diagnosed as a contusion, not a more serious ailment.

New Orleans shot 65.9% in the first half and built a 23‑point advantage. Denver narrowed the gap to 16 by the end of the third quarter, with Jokic and Murray combining for 22 of the Nuggets’ 32 points in that span. However, the Pelicans extended their lead to 19 heading into the final period.

Denver turned the deficit around with back‑to‑back threes from Murray and Jokic, followed by Aaron Gordon’s reverse dunk. With 17 seconds left, the Nuggets had a chance to take the lead, but Murray missed a free‑throw attempt, tying the score at 141.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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