Recap: Nuggets escape New Orleans with 1-point victory

For those who would have instructed Nuggets followers earlier than the sport that Denver would solely rating 20 and 16 factors within the third and fourth quarter respectively there’s no approach they win that recreation, proper? Fallacious! the Nuggets by some means discovered a approach to escape out of New Orleans with a slender 99-98 victory as they stoped CJ McCollum on the final play of the sport to get again into the win column and begin their three recreation highway journey with a victory.

At halftime, the Nuggets held a commanding 63-47 lead and gave the impression to be in agency management of the sport, till the second half that’s. New Orleans outscored the Nuggets by 15 factors within the video games last 24 minutes, however due to an enormous time shot by Nikola Jokic — who returned following a two recreation absence with a hamstring damage — the Nuggets discovered a approach to win.

Jokic completed the night time with 25 factors on 11-of-15 capturing from the sector to go together with 11 rebounds and 10 assists ending the night time together with his fifteenth triple-double of the season. The Nuggets famous person large man wasn’t the one participant who completed with 25 factors as Jamal Murray additionally had a very stable night time offensively, whereas dispensing seven assists and hauling in three steals as effectively.

Bruce Brown and Aaron Gordon additionally completed in double-figures with 11 factors a bit, however it was the Nuggets protection that basically carried them to victory. The Nuggets holding a stable offensive staff just like the Pelicans to only 98 factors at house is a testomony to the hassle they put in on the defensive finish of the ground tonight. McCollum — who missed the ultimate shot of the sport to win — shot 9-of-22 from the sector and 0-of-8 from three because the Nuggets did an exceptional job slowing down New Orleans finest participant with Zion Williamson out.

With the win, Denver’s document strikes to 34-14 on the yr and strikes them 2.5 video games away from the Memphis Grizzlies for first place within the Western Convention. The Nuggets might be again in motion tomorrow night time once they head to Milwaukee to face the Bucks.