The New Orleans Pelicans earned their first win of the season after beating the Denver Nuggets 122-107 on Halloween night.
New Orleans was back in the Smoothie King Center looking to get in the win column. They did just that after beating a Nuggets team that entered the game 3-1.
The Pelicans were one of two NBA teams without a win heading into last night, but the team received productive performances from multiple players to change that narrative.
Jahlil Okafor led the team with 26 points. Okafor was aggressive throughout the game, getting to the free throw line often and converting 10 free throws on 13 attempts.
Brandon Ingram, who led the Pelicans in scoring in the first four games, was right behind Okafor with 25 points on an efficient 7-of-12 from the field. Ingram followed Okafor’s approach with 11 free throw attempts.
Okafor and Ingram outshot the entire Denver Nuggets team from the free throw line. They combined for 19-of-24 from the line, while the Nuggets were 14-of-16.
New Orleans point guard Jrue Holiday returned from his knee injury that he suffered in the Pelicans’ home opener against the Dallas Mavericks. Holiday recorded 19 points, seven assists and five rebounds.
And Frank Jackson provided a spark off the bench. Jackson hit four 3-pointers for his 21 points in 19 minutes.
The Pelicans got a boost beyond the free throw line. New Orleans made 15 3-pointers last night, while defending the perimeter well. The Nuggets were just 7-of-26 from three.
This is the first game where New Orleans has not allowed a 20-point scorer. The Nuggets were led in scoring by Michael Porter Jr.’s 15 points off the bench.
New Orleans is now 1-4 and they will play another team that is currently 1-4, the Oklahoma City Thunder, on Saturday at 4 p.m.