Jokic nets 20th triple-double, paces Nuggets past Hornets

It wasn’t easy, but Nikola Jokic made it look like it anyway.

Behind Jokic’s 20th triple-double of the season (a new franchise record), the Nuggets handled the feisty Hornets, 119-105, on Saturday evening. Down start- ers Jamal Murray (knee) and Aaron Gordon (rib), Jokic seized the game and erupted for 30 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists.

The Nuggets improved to 39-18, with a chance to win the road trip Monday in Miami.

A sluggish start, which saw the Nuggets trail by 15 in the first half, was erased once the defense locked in, and Denver started hammering the paint. The Hornets managed just 45 points in the second half, and the Nuggets ended the night with 78 points inside. That’s 78 points inside without their starting power forward, Aaron Gordon.

Here’s what mattered. baskets came at the hoop, as the rookie finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and four steals in 26 minutes. His defensive effort was tenacious and should only aid his argument to stick in the rotation down the stretch of the regular season. and the offense dried up. There were numerous possessions where Jokic was tasked with playing point guard because no one else was succeeding in getting the team into an offense. When it’s Brown, he needs to be more decisive in his passing.

The energy changed once Ish Smith entered the game. His pace and breakdown ability offers a different style and forces his teammates to run with him. Unsurprisingly, Denver started chipping into the lead with its second unit. In the wake of the Bones Hyland trade, the Nuggets need to decide whether Smith will be relied upon, Brown will be trusted, Murray will be healthy or a buyout candidate will suffice. If there are any questions about depth with this team, they begin in the backcourt.