Nikola Jokic earned the league’s MVP award last season, leading an injury-ravaged Denver team to a top-four Western Conference seed and first-round series victory over Portland. On Wednesday, Jokic delivered an MVP-level performance to spoil a New Orleans upset bid, particularly in the clutch. The center tallied 11 points in overtime, lifting the Nuggets past the Pelicans, who led 103-98 late but couldn’t close out the victory in the final two minutes of regulation.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
New Orleans misfired on a three-pointer, then deflected the ball out of bounds with 26 seconds left in overtime, allowing Denver to maintain a two-possession and four-point edge.