By Eric Jay Santos
On Monday, the New Orleans Pelicans took a 125-113 loss from the Denver Nuggets. Zion Williamson put up 14 points, six rebounds, and five assists over 28 minutes.
Trey Murphy III scored a career-high 41 points on 61.9-percent field goal shooting. In the third quarter, the 24-year-old guard tied the Pelicans’ franchise record for most points scored in a single quarter with 24. CJ McCollum was another key contributor, adding 30 points for New Orleans’ offense.
Nikola Jokic registered his 23rd triple-double of the season, totaling 27 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists for the Nuggets. Meanwhile, Michael Porter Jr. scored a season-high 36 points.
New Orleans trailed behind the Nuggets for the majority of the match, facing an 18-point deficit by halftime. The Pelicans shaved Denver’s lead down to 111-103 with less than five minutes left in regulation, though momentum shifted back towards the Nuggets in the final minutes. McCollum and Murphy led the Pelicans’ comeback efforts with a combined 49 points in the second half.
New Orleans now holds a 12-38 season record. They are on a six-game losing streak.