Jamal Murray Drops 42 — Nuggets Erase 23 to Stun Pelicans 141–135 in OT

DENVER

For three quarters this was a rout, and the wrong team was winning it. New Orleans raced to a 53–30 lead midway through the second quarter, shot 65.9 percent in the first half, and still led by 19 entering the fourth. Denver won it anyway, 141–135 in overtime, because Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic refused to let the night end on the Pelicans’ terms.

According to ESPN’s box score, Murray finished with 42 points on 12-for-25 shooting, 8-for-16 from three and 10-for-13 at the line, with 6 assists and not a single turnover in 43 minutes. Jokic, per ESPN’s box score, had 35 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 blocks and 2 steals — and, per the Associated Press game story, eight of those 35 came in overtime. The triple-double was the 199th of Jokic’s regular-season career, per Reuters / Field Level Media — second all-time, 10 behind the just-retired Russell Westbrook’s 209.

The hole was real

New Orleans earned its lead. The Pelicans put up 38 in the first quarter and 35 in the second, led 73–57 at the half after a late Zion Williamson dunk, and answered Denver’s first push: Jokic and Murray combined for 22 of the Nuggets’ 32 third-quarter points, per the AP account, and the margin still grew to 19, 108–89, heading into the fourth. Trey Murphy III led New Orleans with 26 points, Dejounte Murray added 22, and Williamson and Derik Queen scored 17 each.

Denver was short-handed doing it — playing without Cameron Johnson (sprained ankle), Julian Strawther (knee sprain), Spencer Jones (hamstring) and rookie Alpha Diallo (sprained wrist), per Reuters / Field Level Media. New Orleans was without center Yves Missi, who bruised a knee Friday night in Utah.

The bench cracked it open, the stars closed it

The comeback started with the stars sitting. With Murray and Jokic on the bench, rookie Trevon Brazile hit a three with 9:04 left to cut it to 112–101, per Reuters / Field Level Media’s game story, and after New Orleans pushed back to 118–102, a 9–0 Denver run capped by Brazile’s putback dunk made it 118–111. Brazile finished with 17 points and 9 rebounds, seven of his points in overtime, in his home debut, per the AP story.

Then the finish turned frantic. New Orleans still led 124–116 with 1:37 left in regulation. Jokic and Murray hit threes, Aaron Gordon dunked, and it was a two-point game. Murray was fouled on a three-point attempt and made 2 of 3 free throws with 16 seconds left to tie it at 126 — Denver’s first tie since the first quarter became, seconds later, overtime.

In the extra period Jokic took over: his two free throws in the first minute gave Denver its first lead since the first quarter, his turnaround jumper made it 130–128, and after Saddiq Bey split a pair of free throws, Brazile drained a corner three for 133–129 with 1:25 left, per Reuters / Field Level Media. Denver closed it out from there, outscoring New Orleans 37–18 in the fourth quarter and 15–9 in overtime.

What it means

Denver is 1–1, and this is the kind of win that holds a locker room together in October: 77 points between its two stars, a rookie swinging overtime, a 23-point hole turned into a story instead of a loss. New Orleans is 0–3 under first-year coach Jamahl Mosley, with no time to sit in it — the rematch is Wednesday in New Orleans, per the AP’s up-next listing. Denver hosts Golden State on Monday.

Elsewhere Tonight

• Phoenix Suns 131, Golden State Warriors 122 — Devin Booker 43 points on 17-for-25 shooting, the night’s high; rookie Yaxel Lendeborg led Golden State with 26 as the Warriors fell to 0–3.
• Philadelphia 76ers 127, Milwaukee Bucks 116 — Joel Embiid 28 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists for a triple-double; Jaylen Brown added 27 as Philadelphia stayed unbeaten.
• San Antonio Spurs 122, Dallas Mavericks 106 — Victor Wembanyama 23 points, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks and a plus-32 in 29 minutes; Sergio de Larrea led Dallas with 21.
• Houston Rockets 121, Atlanta Hawks 114 — Kevin Durant 22 points for Houston; Jalen Johnson’s 26 points, 9 rebounds and 16 assists came in the loss.
• Charlotte Hornets 115, Miami Heat 110 — Brandon Miller 34 points for Charlotte; Davion Mitchell had 22 points and 10 assists for Miami.
• Cleveland Cavaliers 125, Brooklyn Nets 121 — Donovan Mitchell 22 points for Cleveland; Michael Porter Jr. scored 28 in the loss.
• Washington Wizards 124, Chicago Bulls 120 — Trae Young 25 points and 9 assists; Caleb Wilson’s 30 points and 14 rebounds came in the loss.

Full box score, linescore and play-by-play: Gamecast — Pelicans at Nuggets. More: NBA hub · Stats Hub