Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic had a sharp message for home supporters following Saturday night’s dramatic 141-135 overtime victory against the New Orleans Pelicans at Ball Arena: if you are going to boo, do not come back.
The Nuggets, coming off a season-opening loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, found themselves trailing by as many as 23 points during the first half, prompting noticeable boos to echo through their home arena. The frustration from the stands mounted as Denver slipped into a deep hole, falling behind 45-26 in the second quarter and heading into the locker room at halftime down 75-57.
Instead of folding, the Nuggets mounted a furious rally led by Jokic and guard Jamal Murray. But the hostility from the home crowd during Denver’s first home game of the season lingered with the three-time NBA Most Valuable Player long after the final buzzer.
“We get booed in the first home game, and I think those fans who booed us, they don’t need to come here anymore,” Jokic told reporters after the game. “Because if you guys follow us, you know that we never quit, and we came back from much worse or similar situations. So if you ask me, they’re not welcome anymore.”
A dramatic turnaround in Denver
Denver’s sluggish start followed a difficult season opener and lingering tension from a first-round postseason exit last spring. Compounding the challenge on Saturday, the team played without several key contributors, including Cam Johnson, Julian Strawther, Alpha Diallo and Spencer Jones.
Head coach David Adelman described the team’s opening display as “dismal” and “horrendous” in remarks to reporters, though he commended the group’s resilience to turn the game around.
Denver flipped the script in the fourth quarter, outscoring New Orleans 37-18 to force overtime. Murray finished with a game-high 42 points, powered by eight 3-pointers. Jokic delivered a triple-double with 35 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists, including eight crucial points in the extra period. According to Bleacher Report, the performance brought Jokic to 199 regular-season triple-doubles, putting him 10 behind Russell Westbrook’s all-time mark of 209, while the New York Post noted Jokic reached 222 combined triple-doubles across the regular season and playoffs.
The 23-point turnaround matched the third-largest comeback in franchise history, Sports Illustrated reported. Since Jokic joined the roster in 2016, Denver has recorded 10 comebacks from deficits of 20 points or greater and 28 when trailing by at least 18 points.
Looking ahead to Golden State
Reflecting on the early struggle, Jokic noted that momentum simply unraveled in the opening two quarters.
“It was just, you know, nothing goes your way, they’re making shots and you’re not making shots,” Jokic said, according to Bleacher Report. “It was just bad energy and it needs a couple of minutes to go by so you can get out of it.”
Denver shot 48 percent from the field and 32 percent from 3-point range, while New Orleans capitalized on 12 Denver turnovers for 15 points, Fox News reported. Despite the early miscues, the Nuggets avoided an 0-2 start to the season.
The Nuggets will continue their home stretch on Monday night when they host the winless Golden State Warriors, giving Denver an immediate opportunity to establish sustained rhythm on their home court.
