Michael Porter Jr. delivered a season-high 36 points as the Denver Nuggets (31-19) defeated the New Orleans Pelicans (12-38) 125-113 on Monday night.
Nikola Jokic recorded his NBA-leading 23rd triple-double of the season, finishing with 27 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists. Jamal Murray contributed 20 points and eight assists, while Julian Strawther added 15 points off the bench. Zeke Nnaji, making his first start of the season in place of the injured Aaron Gordon, posted a season-high 12 points.
Trey Murphy III led the Pelicans with a career-high 41 points, shooting 13-of-21 from the field and 8-of-12 from beyond the arc. Murphy scored 39 of New Orleans’ first 85 points, keeping his team competitive despite trailing by as many as 20 in the second half.
CJ McCollum finished with 30 points, and Zion Williamson had 14 points, six rebounds, and five assists for New Orleans.
The Pelicans struggled collectively, shooting just 37.3% outside of Murphy’s efficiency.
Denver took control early, building a 10-point lead after the first quarter and extending it to 18 by halftime. New Orleans cut the deficit to eight entering the fourth, but the Nuggets responded with a 13-4 run to regain momentum.
Porter shot 12-of-22 from the field, including seven three-pointers, providing Denver with a needed scoring boost. Jokic dominated inside, making 9-of-13 shots while converting 8-of-10 free throws. Murray orchestrated the offense efficiently, committing zero turnovers while adding five rebounds. Strawther’s 15 points off the bench helped Denver maintain its lead when the starters rested.
The Nuggets, now 31-19, secured their third straight victory and 11th win in their past 15 games. New Orleans (12-38) suffered its sixth consecutive loss after a brief four-game winning streak.
Denver shot 50% from the field and held a 46-41 rebounding advantage, capitalizing on second-chance opportunities. The Pelicans converted 18 three-pointers but struggled defensively, allowing Denver to dictate the pace.
