JOKIC WANTS MORE NUGGETS HUNGER

Coach Malone also bemoans Denver's slow start, before Serbian star's overtime heroics

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LOS ANGELES - National Basketball Association (NBA) Most Valuable Player (MVP) Nikola Jokic said the Denver Nuggets "should be more hungry", after he shook off a slow start to post a 27-point triple-double in the 132-129 overtime win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Dec 22.

Jokic, who claimed his third MVP in four years last season, added 13 rebounds and 10 assists at the Smoothie King Centre.

But the Serb, who was held to six points in the first half, bemoaned another slow start for Denver who trailed by as many as 17 in the third quarter.

They took a 111-109 lead on Julian Strawther's lay-up with 4min 37sec left in regulation.

C.J. McCollum put New Orleans back in front 119-117 with 53.2sec left.

But Denver guard Jamal Murray drilled a step-back basket with nine seconds to go to tie it at 119-119, and when McCollum missed a three-pointer, they went to overtime.

The 29-year-old Jokic took over in the extra session, scoring Denver's first six points as they handed the Pelicans a seventh straight defeat.