Nikola Jokic posted 28 points, 12 assists, and 11 rebounds, guiding the Denver Nuggets to a 125-118 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night at Smoothie King Center. Peyton Watson added a career-high 32 points, helping Denver capture its eighth win in nine games.
The Pelicans led by 13 early, but the Nuggets steadily erased the deficit and took control when Watson’s 3-pointer gave Denver a 51-49 lead late in the second quarter. Jokic then took over in the third, hitting a putback layup, a 7-foot pull-up jumper, and a 3-pointer to push the lead to 93-76.
Derik Queen scored a season-high 30 points and grabbed nine rebounds for New Orleans, while Zion Williamson returned from an eight-game absence to contribute 14 points. Trey Murphy III added 23 points as the Pelicans dropped their seventh straight game, falling to 0-3 under interim coach James Borrego.
Denver’s bench scoring proved decisive, with Jonas Valanciunas hitting two late jumpers and Jamal Murray converting free throws with 31 seconds left to seal the win. Jeremiah Fears scored 16 points, extending his streak of 11-or-more-point games to all but one of New Orleans’ 15 contests this season.
After trailing by as many as 19, the Pelicans narrowed the gap to single digits in the final minutes, but Jokic’s presence and Watson’s scoring surge ensured Denver maintained control. The Nuggets shot 55% from the field and 35% from three, while New Orleans finished at 45% and 21% from beyond the arc.
Denver will visit the Houston Rockets on Friday night in NBA Cup West Group C play, while the Pelicans head to Dallas to face the Mavericks in West Group B action.
