Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic out vs. Pelicans for personal reasons

Three-time league MVP Nikola Jokic will miss the Denver Nuggets’ NBA Cup game at the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night for personal reasons.

The Nuggets have not played since Sunday, when Jokic delivered his fourth consecutive triple-double with 37 points, 18 rebounds and 15 assists in a 122-120 home win against the Dallas Mavericks.

The Nuggets (7-3) have won five straight games heading into Friday’s clash with the Pelicans (3-9), who have lost six in a row.

Jokic, 29, is averaging 29.7 points per game and leads the NBA in rebounding (13.7) and assists (11.7). This will be his first missed game of the season.