The NBA found the Nuggets should have had a vital extra possession amid Nikola Jokic’s historic night against the Pelicans.

The Denver Nuggets lost their third game of the 2023-24 season against the New Orleans Pelicans. Nikola Jokic finished the game with a legendary stat line. However, it was not enough to put the hungry Pelicans team away. The Nuggets might have been slighted after the NBA’s Last Two Minutes (L2M) Officiating Report validated Jokic’s concerns over a crucial late-game call.

The Nuggets should have had an extra possession against New Orleans

The NBA’s L2M report from Friday night’s game says Herb Jones, not Nikola Jokic, was the last one to touch the ball before it went out of bounds with 14 seconds remaining, per Harrison Wind. The report acknowledges the mistake by the referee closest to the action, but Denver needed to perform better.

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The Nuggets shot an abnormally low 25% on three-pointers during the game. In contrast, the Pelicans made 52% of theirs. Denver also gave up more turnovers and personal fouls during the game than New Orleans.

With his dominant triple-double, Nikola Jokic made every effort. In the defeat, the Serbian center recorded an incredible 26 points, 18 assists, and 15 rebounds. Christian Braun, meanwhile, exploded off the bench for 25 points and nine rebounds.

The Pelicans won thanks to the three-way combination of Brandon Ingram, Jonas Valanciunas, and Zion Williamson in New Orleans. At least 20 points were scored by each participant.

The Nuggets and Nikola Jokic won’t hang onto the officiating error for very long. The group is aware that they must correct the errors from the game on Friday night. Denver will undoubtedly recover and maintain its lead in the Western Conference.