Murray, Jokic help Nuggets hold off Pelicans 122-113
DENVER (AP) — Jamal Murray scored 32 points, Nikola Jokic got his 16th triple-double of the season and the Denver Nuggets held off the reeling New Orleans Pelicans 122-113 on Tuesday night.
Jokic finished with 26 points, 18 rebounds and 15 assists as the Western Conference leaders improved to 16-0 when Jokic has a triple-double. Murray made a season-high seven 3-pointers on his way to a big night.
CJ McCollum and Herbert Jones both scored 21 points for the Pelicans, who have dropped nine straight games. They finished 3-13 in January.
Part of the reason for the slide has been the absence of standout Zion Williamson, who has missed 15 straight games with a hamstring injury.
The Nuggets led by 13 early in the fourth quarter only to see the Pelicans cut it to five on several occasions, including a layup by Jones with less than a minute remaining. Murray and Jokic each converted a pair of free throws down the stretch to help Denver fend off New Orleans and move to 23-4 at home.
Jokic, who's been dealing with tightness in his left hamstring, had another efficient shooting performance in going 10 of 14 from the floor. It was the 92nd triple-double of his career.
Jokic turned in a nifty play in the first half that drew quite an ovation. The big man saved a ball from going out of bounds on the defensive end, dribbled up the floor, drove in and scored on a finger roll while being fouled.
TIP-INS
Pelicans: Williamson is steadily progressing from a strained right hamstring, coach Willie Green said before the game. "He's getting there," Green explained. "It's something we don't want to rush, but we're definitely excited to see him on the floor." ... Brandon Ingram finished with 16 points and nine assists. ... Larry Nance Jr. scored 11 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter.
Nuggets: Rookie guard Collin Gillespie (broken right leg) has been cleared for some shooting and light running. "If he's able to play at some point this season, that would be great. But we're not putting any pressure or a rush on him," coach Michael Malone said. ... G Bones Hyland, mentioned in trade speculation, played 4:43 and scored two points.
RISING STARS
Hyland was selected to the NBA's Jordan Rising Stars Challenge. So were Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado and forward Trey Murphy III. The mini-tournament will take place on Feb. 17 in Salt Lake City as part of All-Star weekend.
UP NEXT
Pelicans: At Dallas on Thursday to finish a three-game trip.
Nuggets: Host Golden State on Thursday night.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Jonas Valanciunas vs. Nikola Jokic (Brandon Ingram gains possession) | ||
| 11:42 |  | +2 | Jonas Valanciunas makes two point layup (Herbert Jones assists) | 2-0 |
| 11:26 | | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 11:24 | | Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound | ||
| 11:09 | | Jonas Valanciunas misses two point jump shot | ||
| 11:06 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 10:52 | | Michael Porter Jr. misses two point bank jump shot | ||
| 10:51 | | Michael Porter Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 10:50 | | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point putback layup | 2-2 |
| 10:38 | | +3 | Herbert Jones makes three point jump shot (Brandon Ingram assists) | 5-2 |
| 10:19 | | +3 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes three point jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 5-5 |
| 10:06 | | Trey Murphy III misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:04 | | Nuggets defensive rebound | ||
| 9:48 | | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point layup (Nikola Jokic assists) | 5-7 |
| 9:48 | | Jonas Valanciunas shooting foul (Aaron Gordon draws the foul) | ||
| 9:48 | | Aaron Gordon misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | ||
| 9:45 | | Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound | ||
| 9:33 | | CJ McCollum misses two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 9:32 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 9:29 | | +3 | Jamal Murray makes three point running jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 5-10 |
| 9:04 | | +3 | Brandon Ingram makes three point jump shot (Jonas Valanciunas assists) | 8-10 |
| 8:52 | | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point turnaround jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 8-12 |
| 8:41 | | +2 | Trey Murphy III makes two point driving dunk (Brandon Ingram assists) | 10-12 |
| 8:29 | | Jamal Murray turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 8:20 | | Nikola Jokic kicked ball violation | ||
| 8:10 | | +2 | Brandon Ingram makes two point driving finger roll layup (Trey Murphy III assists) | 12-12 |
| 7:56 | | Michael Porter Jr. misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 7:54 | | Brandon Ingram defensive rebound | ||
| 7:45 | | +3 | CJ McCollum makes three point jump shot (Brandon Ingram assists) | 15-12 |
| 7:44 | | Nuggets 60 second timeout | ||
| 7:34 | | Trey Murphy III personal foul (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope draws the foul) | ||
| 7:27 | | +2 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes two point pullup jump shot (Jamal Murray assists) | 15-14 |
| 7:02 | | Trey Murphy III misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:59 | | Aaron Gordon defensive rebound | ||
| 6:53 | | Nikola Jokic misses two point running layup | ||
| 6:49 | | Aaron Gordon offensive rebound | ||
| 6:50 | | Trey Murphy III defensive rebound | ||
| 6:41 | | +2 | Jonas Valanciunas makes two point cutting layup (CJ McCollum assists) | 17-14 |
| 6:25 | | Jamal Murray turnover (bad pass) (Trey Murphy III steals) | ||
| 6:20 | | Herbert Jones turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 5:57 | | +3 | Jamal Murray makes three point stepback jump shot | 17-17 |
| 5:48 | | Brandon Ingram misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 5:46 | | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 5:35 | | Nikola Jokic turnover (bad pass) (Herbert Jones steals) | ||
| 5:31 | | +2 | Trey Murphy III makes two point running dunk (Jonas Valanciunas assists) | 19-17 |
| 5:09 | | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point floating jump shot (Jamal Murray assists) | 19-19 |
| 4:53 | | Nikola Jokic blocks Jonas Valanciunas's two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 4:48 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 4:47 | | Michael Porter Jr. misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 4:44 | | Brandon Ingram defensive rebound | ||
| 4:40 | | +3 | Devonte' Graham makes three point running jump shot (Brandon Ingram assists) | 22-19 |
| 4:27 | | +3 | Jamal Murray makes three point pullup jump shot | 22-22 |
| 4:03 | | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope blocks Trey Murphy III's two point driving layup | ||
| 4:01 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 3:59 | | +3 | Aaron Gordon makes three point running jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 22-25 |
| 3:57 | | Pelicans 60 second timeout | ||
| 3:45 | | CJ McCollum misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:42 | | Jamal Murray defensive rebound | ||
| 3:33 | | Bruce Brown turnover (bad pass) (Herbert Jones steals) | ||
| 3:30 | | +2 | Herbert Jones makes two point running dunk | 24-25 |
| 3:01 | | Jamal Murray misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:59 | | Pelicans defensive rebound | ||
| 2:45 | | Devonte' Graham misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:42 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 2:37 | | +2 | Jeff Green makes two point running finger roll layup (Jamal Murray assists) | 24-27 |
| 2:24 | | +3 | Herbert Jones makes three point jump shot (CJ McCollum assists) | 27-27 |
| 2:04 | | Willy Hernangomez shooting foul (Nikola Jokic draws the foul) | ||
| 2:04 | | +1 | Nikola Jokic makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 27-28 |
| 2:04 | | +1 | Nikola Jokic makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 27-29 |
| 1:54 | | +2 | Willy Hernangomez makes two point driving layup (CJ McCollum assists) | 29-29 |
| 1:39 | | Bones Hyland turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 1:17 | | +2 | Devonte' Graham makes two point jump shot | 31-29 |
| 0:49 | | Larry Nance Jr. shooting foul (Bones Hyland draws the foul) | ||
| 0:49 | | +1 | Bones Hyland makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-30 |
| 0:49 | | +1 | Bones Hyland makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 31-31 |
| 0:31 | | +2 | Willy Hernangomez makes two point finger roll layup (CJ McCollum assists) | 33-31 |
| 0:21 | | Bruce Brown misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:18 | | Willy Hernangomez defensive rebound | ||
| 0:06 | | Zeke Nnaji personal foul (Willy Hernangomez draws the foul) | ||
| 0:00 | | +2 | Trey Murphy III makes two point pullup jump shot (CJ McCollum assists) | 35-31 |
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:43 | | Zeke Nnaji misses two point cutting layup | ||
| 11:41 | | Larry Nance Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 11:30 | | +2 | Larry Nance Jr. makes two point turnaround hook shot (Jose Alvarado assists) | 37-31 |
| 11:13 | | +2 | Jeff Green makes two point turnaround hook shot (Bones Hyland assists) | 37-33 |
| 10:56 | | Bones Hyland personal foul (Larry Nance Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 10:47 | | +2 | CJ McCollum makes two point pullup jump shot | 39-33 |
| 10:33 | | Bones Hyland misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 10:31 | | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope offensive rebound | ||
| 10:26 | | Bones Hyland misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 10:23 | | Jose Alvarado defensive rebound | ||
| 10:12 | | +3 | CJ McCollum makes three point stepback jump shot (Jose Alvarado assists) | 42-33 |
| 10:10 | | Nuggets 60 second timeout | ||
| 10:05 | | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point driving dunk (Bruce Brown assists) | 42-35 |
| 9:38 | | CJ McCollum misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 9:35 | | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope defensive rebound | ||
| 9:29 | | Christian Braun offensive foul (Charge) (Jose Alvarado draws the foul) | ||
| 9:29 | | Christian Braun turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 9:19 | | +2 | Trey Murphy III makes two point floating jump shot (Larry Nance Jr. assists) | 44-35 |
| 9:19 | | Christian Braun shooting foul (Trey Murphy III draws the foul) | ||
| 9:19 | | +1 | Trey Murphy III makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 45-35 |
| 9:03 | | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:01 | | Larry Nance Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 8:55 | | +2 | CJ McCollum makes two point pullup jump shot | 47-35 |
| 8:42 | | Jose Alvarado shooting foul (Bruce Brown draws the foul) | ||
| 8:42 | | +1 | Bruce Brown makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 47-36 |
| 8:42 | | +1 | Bruce Brown makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 47-37 |
| 8:26 | | CJ McCollum misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:23 | | Christian Braun defensive rebound | ||
| 8:16 | | Bruce Brown turnover (lost ball) | ||
| 8:16 | | Bruce Brown personal foul (Loose ball) (Jose Alvarado draws the foul) | ||
| 7:56 | | Jose Alvarado misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:52 | | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope defensive rebound | ||
| 7:46 | | Bruce Brown turnover (bad pass) (CJ McCollum steals) | ||
| 7:46 | | CJ McCollum turnover (out of bounds step) | ||
| 7:38 | | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:36 | | Naji Marshall defensive rebound | ||
| 7:11 | | Naji Marshall misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:09 | | Aaron Gordon defensive rebound | ||
| 7:06 | | +2 | Jamal Murray makes two point running dunk (Aaron Gordon assists) | 47-39 |
| 6:53 | | Jose Alvarado offensive foul (Aaron Gordon draws the foul) | ||
| 6:53 | | Jose Alvarado turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 6:47 | | Nikola Jokic misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 6:45 | | Larry Nance Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 6:39 | | Brandon Ingram misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 6:36 | | Christian Braun defensive rebound | ||
| 6:32 | | Larry Nance Jr. personal foul (Aaron Gordon draws the foul) | ||
| 6:32 | | Pelicans delay of game violation | ||
| 6:21 | | Jamal Murray turnover (bad pass) (Herbert Jones steals) | ||
| 6:19 | | Michael Porter Jr. personal foul (Brandon Ingram draws the foul) | ||
| 6:04 | | Naji Marshall turnover (bad pass) (Nikola Jokic steals) | ||
| 5:59 | | Christian Braun misses two point running layup | ||
| 5:57 | | Christian Braun offensive rebound | ||
| 5:56 | | Aaron Gordon misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:56 | | Pelicans defensive rebound | ||
| 5:33 | | +2 | Herbert Jones makes two point driving floating bank jump shot (Naji Marshall assists) | 49-39 |
| 5:20 | | Herbert Jones kicked ball violation | ||
| 5:13 | | Michael Porter Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Jose Alvarado steals) | ||
| 5:09 | | Nikola Jokic shooting foul (Herbert Jones draws the foul) | ||
| 5:09 | | +1 | Herbert Jones makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 50-39 |
| 5:09 | | +1 | Herbert Jones makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 51-39 |
| 4:55 | | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point floating jump shot (Jamal Murray assists) | 51-41 |
| 4:54 | | Pelicans 60 second timeout | ||
| 4:35 | | +2 | Jonas Valanciunas makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 53-41 |
| 4:19 | | Jamal Murray misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:16 | | Trey Murphy III defensive rebound | ||
| 4:14 | | Brandon Ingram turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 3:58 | | Aaron Gordon misses two point jump shot | ||
| 3:55 | | Brandon Ingram defensive rebound | ||
| 3:48 | | Brandon Ingram turnover (bad pass) (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope steals) | ||
| 3:45 | | Jose Alvarado shooting foul (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope draws the foul) | ||
| 3:45 | | +1 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 53-42 |
| 3:45 | | +1 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 53-43 |
| 3:30 | | Brandon Ingram misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:27 | | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 3:13 | | +3 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes three point stepback jump shot | 53-46 |
| 2:50 | | Jonas Valanciunas misses two point hook shot | ||
| 2:49 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 2:43 | | +3 | Jamal Murray makes three point jump shot (Aaron Gordon assists) | 53-49 |
| 2:26 | | +3 | Trey Murphy III makes three point jump shot (Brandon Ingram assists) | 56-49 |
| 2:06 | | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point turnaround hook shot | 56-51 |
| 1:50 | | CJ McCollum misses two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 1:49 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 1:46 | | Jamal Murray misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 1:43 | | Aaron Gordon offensive rebound | ||
| 1:36 | | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:35 | | Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound | ||
| 1:30 | | Brandon Ingram misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 1:24 | | Jamal Murray defensive rebound | ||
| 1:22 | | Jamal Murray misses two point running reverse layup | ||
| 1:20 | | Michael Porter Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 1:20 | | Michael Porter Jr. misses two point tip layup | ||
| 1:18 | | Michael Porter Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 1:18 | | Michael Porter Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Herbert Jones steals) | ||
| 1:15 | | Brandon Ingram offensive foul (Charge) (Nikola Jokic draws the foul) | ||
| 1:15 | | Brandon Ingram turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 1:02 | | Nikola Jokic turnover (lost ball) (Brandon Ingram steals) | ||
| 0:58 | | Michael Porter Jr. shooting foul (Brandon Ingram draws the foul) | ||
| 0:58 | | +1 | Brandon Ingram makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 57-51 |
| 0:58 | | +1 | Brandon Ingram makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 58-51 |
| 0:48 | | +3 | Michael Porter Jr. makes three point jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 58-54 |
| 0:31 | | Brandon Ingram misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:26 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 0:21 | | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point running finger roll layup | 58-56 |