Nuggets star Nikola Jokic and coach Mike Malone will miss the game against the Pelicans due to 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 due to personal reasons. Malone stayed behind to watch her daughter Bridget compete in a high school volleyball playoff match.

Nuggets assistant David Adelman replaced Malone and said the hardest part of stepping in was “not having Nikola here.”

Adelman said he did not know how long Jokic, who had four consecutive triple-doubles, would be out of action.

“It’s personal reasons for him,” Adelman said. “Things that happen at home. For some, that’s their job. 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 hopes Malone doesn’t try to watch the NBA game on his phone while his daughter is playing.

“She watches her daughter play, which is really cool,” Adelman said. “There are things you miss as a father from being the son of a coach (his father is former NBA coach Rick Adelman) and growing up in that environment. “It’s really great to have him there.”

Bridget Malone will play at the University of North Carolina.

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