Nuggets star Nikola Jokic and coach Mike Malone will miss the Pelicans game for personal reasons

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Denver Nuggets were without star center Nikola Jokic and coach Mike Malone for their NBA Cup opener against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.

Jokic missed the game for personal reasons. Malone stayed behind to watch daughter Bridget compete in a high school volleyball playoff game.

Nuggets lead assistant David Adelman took over for Malone and said the toughest challenge to step in was that “Nikola isn’t here.”

Adelman said he didn’t know how long Jokic — who has recorded four straight triple-doubles — will be out.

“It’s personal reasons for him,” Adelman said. “It’s home stuff. That’s someone’s business. When he feels like he’s ready to come back, he’ll come back.”

The Nuggets haven’t played since Sunday, when Jokic had 37 points, 18 rebounds and 15 assists in a 122-120 home win over Dallas.

Adelman said he hoped Malone wouldn’t try to watch the NBA game on his phone while his daughter was playing.

“He watches his daughter play – that’s really cool,” Adelman said. “From being the son of a coach (his father is former NBA coach Rick Adelman) and growing up because of this, there are things you miss as a father. It’s really cool that he’s here.”

Bridget Malone will play at the University of North Carolina.

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