Nuggets erase 23-point deficit, beat Pelicans in overtime

Nikola Jokić prepares to shoot a free throw during a Denver Nuggets game at Ball Arena in 2026. — MhcL947 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

Summary

Denver rallied from 23 points down to defeat New Orleans 141-135 in overtime at Ball Arena.
Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 42 points; Nikola Jokić had 35 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists.
Trey Murphy III scored 26 points for New Orleans, which led by 19 entering the fourth quarter.
The teams are scheduled to meet again Wednesday in New Orleans.

Denver finds a way back

DENVER — The Nuggets turned a 23-point hole into their first win of the season, rallying past the New Orleans Pelicans 141-135 in overtime Saturday at Ball Arena. Jamal Murray scored 42 points, and Nikola Jokić finished with 35 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists. Jokić recorded his 199th career regular-season triple-double, moving within 10 of Russell Westbrook’s league record of 209.^{[1] [2] [5]}

New Orleans seized control early, building a 53-30 lead midway through the second quarter and carrying a 71-55 advantage into halftime. Zion Williamson’s dunk in the final second of the half capped the Pelicans’ push. They were still ahead by 19 entering the fourth, but Denver began cutting into the margin while Murray and Jokić were on the bench, with rookie Trevon Brazile’s three-pointer making it 112-101.^[1]

The Pelicans briefly restored a 16-point cushion at 118-102. Denver answered with a 9-0 run, then kept pressing: Jokić and Murray hit threes, and Aaron Gordon’s dunk pulled the Nuggets within two. Murray tied the score at 126 with 16 seconds left, making two of three free throws after a foul on a three-point attempt.^{[1] [2]}

Overtime settles a back-and-forth game

Jokić put Denver ahead for the first time since the opening quarter with two free throws in overtime, then added a turnaround jumper. Brazile scored seven of his 17 points in the extra period and hit a late corner three to help the Nuggets pull away. Christian Braun added 15 points for Denver.^{[1] [2]}

Trey Murphy III led New Orleans with 26 points. Dejounte Murray scored 22, while Williamson and rookie Derik Queen had 17 apiece. DeAndre Jordan started at center with Yves Missi unavailable after a knee injury in Friday’s loss at Utah; the Nuggets also played short-handed, missing Julian Strawther, Spencer Jones, Cameron Johnson and rookie Alpha Diallo.^{[1] [4] [5]}

The result gave Denver its first victory after a 96-84 loss to Oklahoma City in its opener. New Orleans entered the game 0-2 after defeats to Indiana and Utah, and fell to 0-3. The teams are due to meet again Wednesday in New Orleans, the second of two matchups scheduled within five days.^{[1] [3] [5]}

Reporting sources

This article follows our editorial standards. To report an error, see our corrections policy.