Jokic Meets a Winless Pelicans Squad Desperate for Answers
Two teams trending in opposite directions meet Wednesday night at Smoothie King Center, with New Orleans sitting at 0-3 and running out of margin for error before October is even over. Denver isn't exactly rolling at 1-2, but the Nuggets carry something the Pelicans don't right now: Nikola Jokic.
Let's start with the obvious. Jokic is averaging 22.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 8.7 assists through Denver's first three games — numbers that make him the most complete offensive weapon either team will put on the floor tonight. That triple-double threat isn't a storyline, it's a structural problem for any defense, and New Orleans is a team that has yet to find its footing this season. When one player can beat you as a scorer, rebounder, and playmaker simultaneously, your margin for defensive error shrinks to almost nothing.
For the Pelicans, the pressure falls on Zion Williamson, who is averaging 20.7 points per game and expected to start. Zion has the physical tools to make life uncomfortable for Denver's frontcourt, but scoring alone won't be enough if New Orleans can't generate consistent offense around him. Dejounte Murray is averaging 6.3 assists per game and will need to keep the offense organized against a Denver defense that can exploit ball-handling breakdowns. Meanwhile, Derik Queen has been the team's top rebounder at 8.3 per game — a number that matters most if the Pelicans can generate second-chance opportunities and keep possessions alive against a Nuggets team that controls pace through Jokic.
As for a model read — there isn't one for this game, and I won't manufacture a lean where none exists. What I will say is this: 0-3 is a dangerous place to be hosting a team with Jokic operating at this level. New Orleans needs a performance that goes beyond individual stats — they need cohesion, and there's no evidence yet that they have it. Denver, for all its early stumbles, has a stabilizing force that most teams simply don't. Tonight at 8:00 PM ET on NBA League Pass, GCSEN, and Pelicans.com, we find out whether the Pelicans can manufacture a win before the early-season hole gets any deeper.