New Orleans Pelicans 135–141 Denver Nuggets: match recap

Match recap

Jamal Murray erupted for 42 points and Nikola Jokić recorded a 35-point triple-double as Denver outlasted New Orleans 141-135 in a high-scoring affair. The Nuggets' home-floor advantage and slight advantage on the boards (50-49) countered a Pelicans bench that outscored Denver's reserves 51-38.

Denver built an early lead behind Murray's hot shooting (8-16 from three) and Jokić's steady playmaking, but New Orleans answered each run with balanced scoring—Trey Murphy (26 points) and Dejounte Murray (22 points, 6 assists) kept the Pelicans within striking distance. The Nuggets' starters logged heavy minutes (Jokić 43, Murray 42) and leaned on Christian Braun's 15 points and 8 rebounds to maintain a slim lead. A 17-point fourth quarter from T. Brazile off the bench helped Denver hold off a late Pelicans surge led by D. Queen (17 points, 8 rebounds). The game swung on Denver's 3-point percentage advantage (31.9% to 29.7%, per chart data) and their ability to force a dead-even turnover battle (0-0, per chart data) despite New Orleans' 33 assists to Denver's 26.

Key factors

• The numbers tell the story here: see the key factors, team form and season numbers for what the statistics indicate.
• New Orleans' bench outscored Denver's 51-38, led by Queen's 17 points and Saddiq Bey's 14 points, but the Pelicans couldn't offset the Nuggets' home-court composure.
• A dead-even shooting efficiency split (model share labeled 'even') meant rebounding (Denver +1 boards) and the home factor tilted the advantage to Denver (51% model share to 49% for New Orleans).

The Analyst's take

The numbers confirm Denver's narrow advantage in a game that could easily have swung the other way. Murray's scoring outburst and Jokić's versatility are a proven formula, but the heavy minutes for both stars raise a durability flag early in the season. New Orleans' deep bench and playmaking suggest they can compete with top-tier teams, but their three-point inconsistency (29.7%) is a gap that opponents will continue to exploit.