Nuggets like to win the hard way, jokes Jokic after latest comeback

Nikola Jokic joked the Denver Nuggets liked having to come from behind after they overturned another deficit against the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Nuggets were 17 points down against the Pelicans before they triumphed 132-129 in overtime on Sunday.

Jokic registered his league-leading 11th triple-double of the season in the victory, compiling 27 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, with 13 of those points coming in the fourth quarter and overtime as he got the 141st triple-double of his career.

He also fed Aaron Gordon for a dunk with just over two minutes left in overtime to snap a 125-125 tie before Jamal Murray sealed the win.

Denver have now pulled off the most 10-point fourth-quarter comebacks in the NBA this season, but Jokic urged the team to make quicker starts.

"[The Pelicans] were shooting the ball well. The runners shoot the ball well. The guys would not let us shoot, especially in the first half. They played with some pace and were making shots," Jokic said.

"We didn't play a good defense in the first half, but we come back. That's the main thing.

Triple-double number 11 for Jok pic.twitter.com/Pz2MaadD50

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 23, 2024

"It seems we like it that way [coming from behind]. It's not [fun to play that way]. We should be more hungry, let's say it like that.

"There was an advantage for us [in the fourth quarter] and I tried to use it in the best possible way.

"It seems like we like it when it's tough for us and when it's a hard schedule, we play better. Whenever we have a couple of days off, we play bad."

Denver now face a schedule of five games in seven days, starting with a home game against the Phoenix Suns on Monday.

Coach Michael Malone is not fazed by the tight turnaround and lauded the mentality of his team to continuously come from behind to win.

"We've had this [type of] game so many times already this year," he said. "I love the fact that we're resilient, and we find ways. We don't quit.

"I don't like that we keep digging this hole, but you have to admire the toughness to stay with it and not get down. We'll take it, but I told them, let's stop being a team that waits until the fourth quarter to turn it on."