Sun Nov 17 23:20:00 UTC 2024: ## Nuggets Suffer Loss in NBA Cup Opener, Missing Jokic and Malone

**NEW ORLEANS** – The Denver Nuggets opened their NBA Cup campaign with a 101-94 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night, hampered by the absences of star center Nikola Jokic and head coach Michael Malone.

Jokic missed the game due to personal reasons, while Malone was absent to support his daughter, Bridget, in a high school volleyball playoff match. Lead assistant David Adelman stepped in to coach, noting Jokic’s absence as the biggest challenge. Adelman offered no timeline for Jokic’s return, stating only that the All-Star center would rejoin the team when he felt ready. Jokic had recorded four consecutive triple-doubles prior to the game.

Adelman expressed his hope that Coach Malone wouldn’t be distracted by the NBA game while cheering on his daughter, Bridget, a future University of North Carolina volleyball player. Adelman, whose father is former NBA coach Rick Adelman, added that Malone’s presence at his daughter’s game highlighted the sacrifices coaches often make. The Nuggets’ next game is yet to be announced.

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