Nuggets Rally From 23 Points Down to Beat Pelicans 141-135 in Overtime as Jokić Rejects Booing Fans
What happened
Nikola Jokić publicly stated that booing fans were "not welcome anymore" after the Denver Nuggets overcame a 23-point deficit to defeat the New Orleans Pelicans 141-135 in overtime.
The Context
- A sharp turnaround inside Ball Arena: Denver trailed 73-57 at halftime, prompting home crowd boos before Jokić recorded a triple-double (35 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists) alongside Jamal Murray's 42 points to force overtime.
- Roster depth remains limited: The Nuggets entered the home opener 0-1 following an opening loss to Oklahoma City, playing through early-season injuries to key rotation pieces like Cam Johnson and Alpha Diallo.
- The line between customers and supporters: Fan and media responses remain split between treating ticket holders as paying critics and viewing mid-game boos as counterproductive to internal team morale.
The Number
— the point deficit Denver erased to secure their first victory of the 2026-27 season, demonstrating that elite execution can correct a broken operational strategy mid-flight.
Takeaway
Expect top-tier operators across high-visibility industries to increasingly push back on vocal stakeholder impatience when core processes require time to adjust.
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Jokić says booing fans ‘not welcome’ after Nuggets rally from 23 points down to beat Pelicans
Nikola Jokić scored 35 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and dished out 10 assists, including eight points in overtime, as the short-handed Denver Nuggets rallied from 23 points down to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 141-135 on Saturday night. Nuggets fans ...
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Jokić says booing fans ‘not welcome’ after Nuggets rally from 23 points down to beat Pelicans
Nikola Jokić scored 35 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and dished out 10 assists, including eight points in overtime, as the short-handed Denver Nuggets rallied from 23 points down to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 141-135 on Saturday night. Nuggets fans ...
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NBA roundup: Nikola Jokic records 199th triple-double, Nuggets top Pels
Nikola Jokic recorded 35 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists, including eight points in overtime, as the Denver Nuggets rallied from a 23-point deficit to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 141-135 on Saturday night. Jamal Murray scored 42 points in the wi...
Commentary, news, and media analysis across major leagues and sports culture.
"Deadspin delivers sports commentary and news with a humorous, sometimes irreverent editorial tone."
— A47 Editor
Nuggets rally from 23 down to force overtime, beat Pelicans
The Denver Nuggets rallied from a 23-point deficit to force overtime and defeat the New Orleans Pelicans 141-135 on Saturday night, with Jamal Murray scoring 42 points and Nikola Jokić finishing with 35 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists, including e...