Three Kisses, Serbian Style: Jokic's Former Teammate Keeps Iconic Tradition Alive /VIDEO/

Pulse Sports Team 07:39 - 25 October 2026

DeAndre Jordan and Nikola Jokic delighted fans with a traditional Serbian greeting before the game, followed by Jokic racking up 35 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists to lead Denver to a massive comeback victory over New Orleans.

The matchup offered an opportunity for former teammates Nikola Jokic and DeAndre Jordan to reunite, as the two have remained close following Jordan's departure from Denver.

Fans fondly remember their pre-game greeting from their time together, and they have kept the tradition alive. In typical Serbian fashion, with three kisses on the cheek, the Serbian superstar and the American veteran greeted each other warmly ahead of their teams' clash.

Unlike Jokic, who dominated the floor and notched another triple-double to surpass Russell Westbrook, Jordan managed just nine points on the night, leaving New Orleans lacking his usual offensive punch.

Denver stages thrilling comeback against New Orleans behind Jokic and Murray

Bouncing back from a subpar outing against Oklahoma City by his standards, Nikola Jokic took charge with 35 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists—his first triple-double of the season—to power his team past the visitors.

Remarkably, he was not even Denver's top scorer on the night, as teammate Jamal Murray erupted for 45 points.

New Orleans got off to a flying start, taking the opening quarter 38-24 and threatening to hand Denver another early-season setback. The Nuggets struggled to find their rhythm in the second frame as well, with the Pelicans edging it 35-33.

The visitors also claimed the third quarter 35-32, and the contest seemed all but decided until Denver pulled off a stunning turnaround. Jokic and Murray took matters into their own hands in a blistering 37-18 fourth quarter, miraculously forcing overtime.

Riding that wave of momentum and sheer star power, Denver took control in the extra five minutes to comfortably close out the win against a shell-shocked Pelicans side.

Trey Murphy led the way for the Pelicans with 26 points, six rebounds, and four assists, while Dejounte Murray chipped in with 22 points.

With this performance, Nikola Jokic is now just 11 triple-doubles away from the all-time NBA record, making his ascent to the top of the historic leaderboard only a matter of time.