The Pelicans' Late-Game Struggles Continue: A Shorthanded Denver Nuggets Team Proves Too Much
NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - The Pelicans' struggles with late-game leads continued on Tuesday night (Jan. 13) as they fell to the Denver Nuggets, 122-116, despite the absence of star center Nikola Jokic.
Jamal Murray and Peyton Watson led the Nuggets' comeback, outscoring the Pelicans 16-6 in the final four minutes to secure a victory. Jokic, a three-time NBA MVP and seven-time All-Star, has been sidelined since Dec. 29 due to a left knee hyperextension.
The Pelicans appeared in control for much of the game, taking a lead early in the second quarter and holding it until early in the fourth. They led by as many as nine points (69-60) with 10:13 left in the third quarter. However, even after a couple of lead changes in the fourth quarter, the Pelicans still held a four-point advantage at 110-106 with 4:04 left.
But the Nuggets then went on a 16-6 run to end the game, dropping the Pelicans to 6-18 at the Smoothie King Center. Trey Murphy III led New Orleans with 31 points, maintaining his hot January form with an average of 31.3 points in the first five games of the new year.
The Pelicans outrebounded the Nuggets, 50-33, but turned the ball over 14 times, compared to Denver's seven turnovers. Saddiq Bey followed Murphy with 17 points, while Jordan Poole (16), Zion Williamson (12), Derik Queen (10), and Jeremiah Fears (10) also scored in double figures.
The Pelicans return home on Wednesday night to host the Brooklyn Nets at 7 p.m. on the Gulf Coast Sports and Entertainment Network. Stay tuned for more updates and analysis!
