Nuggets without Nikola Jokic and Michael Malone in loss to Pelicans

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

Jokic missed Denver’s 101-94 loss for personal reasons. Malone stayed to watch his daughter Bridget compete in a high school volleyball playoff match.

Nuggets senior assistant David Adelman replaced Malone and said the toughest challenge in stepping in was that “Nikola’s not here.”

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

“For him it’s personal reasons,” Adelman said. “It’s stuff at home. For someone, that’s their business. When they feel like they’re ready to come back, they’ll come back.”

The Nuggets hadn’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 played.

“He’s watching his daughter play, that’s really cool,” said Adelman, whose father is former NBA coach Rick Adelman. “Being a coach’s son and growing up around this, there are things you miss as a father. It’s really cool that he’s there.”

Bridget Malone will play at the University of North Carolina.