Reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic recorded his 11th triple-double of the season on Sunday night after finishing with 27 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 132-129 overtime win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Jokic overcame a slow start, having failed to score in the first 21 minutes, but scored 21 of his 27 points in the second half and overtime, where he scored the first six points of the round.
Triple-double number 11 for Jok 🃏 pic.twitter.com/Pz2MaadD50
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 23, 2024
Jamal Murray ended with 27 points, and Russell Westbrook finished with 21 points for the Nuggets as they clinched their 15th win of the season and fourth in five games.
New Orleans got a team-high 25 points from Jordan Hawkins; CJ McCollum finished with 24 points, six rebounds, and nine assists. Trey Murphy III and rookie Yves Missi scored 21 points apiece, and guard Dejounte Murray finished with 19 points and dished a game-high 15 dimes as the Pelicans slumped to their seventh straight defeat.
Finished the job pic.twitter.com/hAaB8fYHFp
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 23, 2024
Elsewhere, Canadian Dillon Brooks tied a game-high 27 points to help the Houston Rockets to a 114-110 win over the Raptors at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, their first at the ground in over five years.
Jalen Green poured in 22 points, and Alperen Sengun finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Rockets in their second straight win as they improved to 19-9 for the season.
A win in the North ✅ pic.twitter.com/hPWXxlXc72
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) December 23, 2024
Toronto was without RJ Barrett for the second straight game, but Ja’Kobe Walter, who scored the Raptors’ first 14 points, finished with a career-high 27 before fouling out.
Chris Boucher and Ochai Agbaji each added 15 for the Raptors in their seventh straight loss and sixth straight at home.
At the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, the Indiana Pacers secured a 122-95 rout of the Kings in a win powered by a 70-point second half.
fourth straight dub 😤#PacersWin pic.twitter.com/GFdlONDQaH
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) December 23, 2024
The Pacers, who won their fourth straight game, had seven players in double figures, with Pascal Siakam finishing with 19 points and 10 rebounds and Myles Turner adding 15 points.
team dub 😏
seven in double figures in Sacramento. pic.twitter.com/2IcWV8cFEY
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) December 23, 2024
Sacramento got 23 points from De’Aaron Fox, while Domantas Sabonis ended with 17 points and 21 rebounds as the Kings lost for their fourth consecutive game.
