Denver NuggetsOpen full analysis
New Orleans PelicansOpen full analysis
The Denver Nuggets escaped the Smoothie King Center with a 122–116 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on January 13, improving their road form in a defensive battle. Jamal Murray led Denver with 35 points, while P. Watson added 31 points off the bench, combining to outscore New Orleans's top two scorers—T. Murphy III (31 points) and S. Bey (17 points)—through balanced offensive execution. Denver's superior three-point shooting proved decisive: the Nuggets made 14 three-pointers on 48.8% field-goal accuracy compared to New Orleans's 11 threes on 45.3% shooting. The Nuggets also dominated the turnover battle, committing just 7 turnovers versus the Pelicans' 15, and controlled the tempo with 24 assists to New Orleans's 21. Denver's fourth-quarter surge—33 points—sealed the outcome after the Pelicans managed just 24 in the final frame, well below their first-half pace of 31 and 34 points. The final score of 238 combined points exceeded the Vegas total of 234.5, reflecting an offensive-minded affair. Denver's defensive rating of 117.6 and balanced scoring depth position them well for continued Western Conference contention.
