Game ID: 22300539
New Orleans Pelicans @ Denver Nuggets
Friday, January 12, 2024 at 10:00 PM ET
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
DEN 37 29 34 25 125NOP 25 26 29 33 113
DEN vs NOP ScoutingDEN vs NOP Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
DEN availability going into 1/04 · 2 days' restBACK Gordon back 1/01 after 2, 25 min since (76% of 32)
BACK Holiday back 12/28 after 4, 17 min since (115% of 15)
BACK Jordan back 12/28 after 2, 13 min since (119% of 11)
DEN availability going into 1/05 · back-to-backOUT Holiday missed 2 since 1/01, returns tonight: 10 min (69% of 15)
OUT Jordan missed 2 since 1/01, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 1/01 after 2, 30 min since (93% of 32)
NEW Watson 18 to 23 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Jordan missed 3 since 1/01, returns tonight: 21 min (194% of 11)
BACK Gordon back 1/01 after 2, 32 min since (99% of 32)
BACK Holiday back 12/28 after 4, 15 min since (99% of 15)
DEN availability going into 1/10 · 2 days' restOUT Strawther missed 2 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 1/01 after 2, 29 min since (90% of 32)
BACK Holiday back 1/05 after 2, 7 min since (49% of 15)
BACK Jordan back 1/07 after 3, 21 min since (194% of 11)
DEN availability going into 1/12 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 3 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 1/01 after 2, 29 min since (90% of 32)
BACK Holiday back 1/05 after 2, 9 min since (61% of 15)
BACK Jordan back 1/07 after 3, 14 min since (132% of 11)
DEN availability going into 1/14 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 4 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 1/05 after 2, 7 min since (49% of 15)
BACK Jordan back 1/07 after 3, 14 min since (131% of 11)
DEN availability going into 1/16 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 5 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 1/05 after 2, 6 min since (39% of 15)
BACK Jordan back 1/07 after 3, 12 min since (115% of 11)
DEN availability going into 1/19 · 2 days' restOUT Strawther missed 6 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Jordan back 1/07 after 3, 12 min since (111% of 11)
DEN availability going into 1/21 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 7 since 1/05, out tonight
NOP availability going into 1/03 · back-to-backOUT Murphy III missed 2 since 12/31, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 21 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Nance Jr. back 12/28 after 13, 23 min since (113% of 20)
BACK Hawkins back 12/31 after 3, 17 min since (102% of 17)
NOP availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Murphy III missed 3 since 12/31, returns tonight: 17 min (55% of 30)
OUT Ryan missed 22 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Nance Jr. back 12/28 after 13, 23 min since (113% of 20)
BACK Hawkins back 12/31 after 3, 12 min since (74% of 17)
NOP availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Ryan missed 23 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Murphy III back 1/05 after 3, 17 min since (55% of 30)
BACK Nance Jr. back 12/28 after 13, 22 min since (109% of 20)
BACK Hawkins back 12/31 after 3, 11 min since (65% of 17)
NOP availability going into 1/10 · 2 days' restOUT Ryan missed 24 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Murphy III back 1/05 after 3, 21 min since (68% of 30)
BACK Hawkins back 12/31 after 3, 14 min since (81% of 17)
NOP availability going into 1/12 · 1 day's restOUT Alvarado missed 2 since 1/07, returns tonight: 17 min (91% of 18)
OUT Ryan missed 25 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Murphy III back 1/05 after 3, 22 min since (72% of 30)
NOP availability going into 1/13 · back-to-backOUT Ryan missed 26 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Murphy III back 1/05 after 3, 23 min since (76% of 30)
BACK Alvarado back 1/12 after 2, 17 min since (91% of 18)
NOP availability going into 1/15 · 1 day's restOUT Ryan missed 27 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Murphy III back 1/05 after 3, 23 min since (76% of 30)
BACK Alvarado back 1/12 after 2, 21 min since (118% of 18)
NOP availability going into 1/17 · 1 day's restOUT Ryan missed 28 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Alvarado back 1/12 after 2, 21 min since (118% of 18)
NOP availability going into 1/19 · 1 day's restOUT Ryan missed 29 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Alvarado back 1/12 after 2, 15 min since (83% of 18)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 116, shooting 52 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Murray at 25 and Jokić at 21 a game. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 101, shooting 51 percent and 46 from three, 19 free throws a game; McCollum at 19 and Williamson at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Alvarado (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the arc, New Orleans at 46 percent from three to Denver's 36 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-9 a night and Denver minus-1. Call it Denver 115, New Orleans 114, New Orleans keeping it close.
1/04 @ GSW 130-127 — DEN notes
DEN won 130-127. DEN shot 56% (48 of 85) to GSW's 54%, 9 of 26 from three, and went to the line 29 times to GSW's 16 — 25 points from the stripe to their 14. Jokić led with 34 (13 of 16, 6 of 7 at the line); Gordon added 30, Murray 25. The hinge was Q4, 36-20: DEN came in trailing by 13 and left it ahead by 3. Murray was the night's best plus/minus at +9.
1/05 vs ORL 120-122 — DEN notes
DEN lost 120-122. DEN took 13 more shots (95 to 82), but shot 51% to ORL's 50%, 9 of 33 from three, and got to the line 19 times to ORL's 34. Jokić led with 29 (13 of 19); Porter Jr. added 22, Murray 20. Q1 was theirs, 37-28, but the other 3 periods went 94-83 against them. They led by as many as 18. Watson's -16 in 13 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/07 vs DET 131-114 — DEN notes
DEN won 131-114. DEN shot 59% (47 of 80) to DET's 47%, 10 of 27 from three. Murray led with 37 (14 of 24, 3 of 8 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Caldwell-Pope added 18, Porter Jr. 18. The hinge was Q3, 43-28: a lead of 8 became 23. Porter Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +29.
1/10 @ UTA 111-124 — DEN notes
DEN lost 111-124. DEN shot 46% (37 of 81) to UTA's 55%, 13 of 33 from three. Jokić led with 27 (8 of 9, 10 of 12 at the line); Murray added 17, Gordon 12. Q4 was theirs, 33-25, the deficit cut from 21 to 13, but the other 3 periods went 99-78 against them. Murray's -27 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/12 vs NOP 125-113 — DEN notes
DEN won 125-113. DEN shot 56% (50 of 90) to NOP's 47%, 14 of 33 from three, and got to the line 15 times to NOP's 22. DEN turned it over 15 times to NOP's 8, and NOP turned those into 9 steals. The glass went 48-35 for them. Jokić led with 27 (11 of 17); Murray added 20, Porter Jr. 20. The hinge was Q1, 37-25: from level to 12 ahead, and the lead reached 22. Murray was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
1/14 vs IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 120, shooting 53 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Jokić at 24 and Murray at 24 a game. One day's rest. Indiana comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 115, shooting 54 percent and 40 from three, 19 free throws a game; Mathurin at 19 and Turner at 17 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Haliburton (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the line, where Denver takes 24 free throws a game to Indiana's 19. Call it Denver 121, Indiana 119, Indiana keeping it close.
1/16 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 119, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Maxey at 27 and Harris at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Covington (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 116, shooting 55 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Murray at 24 and Jokić at 22 a game. One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-2 a night and Philadelphia minus-8 and the turnovers, Denver giving it away 15 times a game to Philadelphia's 11. Call it Philadelphia 117, Denver 116, Denver keeping it close.
1/19 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 112, shooting 44 percent and 42 from three, 26 free throws a game; Brown at 24 and Tatum at 24 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 117, shooting 55 percent and 42 from three, 24 free throws a game; Murray at 23 and Jokić at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-5 a night and Boston minus-2 and the turnovers, Denver giving it away 15 times a game to Boston's 10. Call it Boston 118, Denver 114, Denver keeping it close.
1/21 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Poole at 21 and Kuzma at 17 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Gafford (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 114, shooting 53 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Jokić at 28 and Murray at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-7 a night and Washington minus-5 and the arc, Denver at 39 percent from three to Washington's 35. Call it Denver 118, Washington 115, Washington keeping it close.
1/03 @ MIN 117-106 — NOP notes
NOP won 117-106. NOP shot 56% (45 of 81) to MIN's 45%, 12 of 26 from three, and got to the line 17 times to MIN's 27. The glass went 41-28 for them. Williamson led with 27 (11 of 15, 5 of 6 at the line); McCollum added 24, Ingram 19. The hinge was Q2, 32-22: a lead of 3 became 13, and the lead reached 24. Williamson was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
1/05 vs LAC 95-111 — NOP notes
NOP lost 95-111. NOP took 10 more shots (92 to 82), fed by 14 offensive rebounds, but shot 36% to LAC's 49%, 12 of 29 from three. NOP turned it over 9 times to LAC's 14. Valančiūnas led with 13 (6 of 12); Hawkins added 13, McCollum 12. Q4 was theirs, 27-19, the deficit cut from 24 to 16, but the other 3 periods went 92-68 against them. Nance Jr.'s -21 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/07 @ SAC 133-100 — NOP notes
NOP won 133-100. NOP shot 61% (50 of 82) to SAC's 42%, 19 of 35 from three. NOP turned it over 16 times to SAC's 9, and SAC turned those into 9 steals. The glass went 51-25 for them. McCollum led with 30 (11 of 16, 7 of 10 from three); Ingram added 15, Valančiūnas 15. The hinge was Q3, 31-14: a lead of 25 became 42, and the lead reached 50. Ingram was the night's best plus/minus at +34.
1/10 @ GSW 141-105 — NOP notes
NOP won 141-105. NOP shot 57% (54 of 94) to GSW's 44%, 19 of 40 from three. NOP turned it over 11 times to GSW's 17. Valančiūnas led with 21 (9 of 13, 2 of 3 from three); Williamson added 19, Murphy III 16. The hinge was Q1, 46-27: from level to 19 ahead, and the lead reached 41. Murphy III was the night's best plus/minus at +38.
1/12 @ DEN 113-125 — NOP notes
NOP lost 113-125. NOP shot 47% (42 of 89) to DEN's 56%, 13 of 33 from three, and went to the line 22 times to DEN's 15 — 16 points from the stripe to their 11. NOP turned it over 8 times to DEN's 15. The glass went 35-48 against them. Williamson led with 30 (13 of 22, 4 of 6 at the line); Valančiūnas added 17, Nance Jr. 13. Q4 was theirs, 33-25, the deficit cut from 20 to 12, but the other 3 periods went 100-80 against them. Murphy III's -18 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/13 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 110, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 27 free throws a game; Dončić at 35 and Irving at 33 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Lively II (4 straight), Kleber (31 straight), Exum (5 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 109, shooting 51 percent and 46 from three, 19 free throws a game; Williamson at 22 and McCollum at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-5 a night and Dallas minus-6 and the line, where Dallas takes 27 free throws a game to New Orleans's 19. Call it Dallas 118, New Orleans 113.
1/15 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Irving at 34 and Hardaway Jr. at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Dončić (2 straight), Lively II (5 straight), Exum (6 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 110, shooting 50 percent and 45 from three, 23 free throws a game; Williamson at 20 and McCollum at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-4 a night and Dallas minus-7 and the arc, New Orleans at 45 percent from three to Dallas's 39. Call it Dallas 117, New Orleans 116, New Orleans keeping it close.
1/17 vs CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 113, shooting 53 percent and 43 from three, 27 free throws a game; Williamson at 26 and McCollum at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. Charlotte comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 97 a night and allowing 117, shooting 39 percent and 33 from three, 18 free throws a game; Rozier at 24 and Bridges at 22 a game. That is 5 straight losses. 2 days' rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the arc, New Orleans at 43 percent from three to Charlotte's 33 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-4 a night and Charlotte minus-4. Call it New Orleans 121, Charlotte 106, New Orleans by 15.
1/19 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 115, shooting 51 percent and 44 from three, 28 free throws a game; Williamson at 23 and McCollum at 18 a game. One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 120, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Booker at 25 and Durant at 24 a game. That is 3 straight wins. 2 days' rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the arc, New Orleans at 44 percent from three to Phoenix's 38 and the turnovers, Phoenix giving it away 13 times a game to New Orleans's 10. Call it New Orleans 120, Phoenix 115.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
NOPBI B. Ingram
CM C. McCollum
DD D. Daniels
EL E. Liddell
HJ H. Jones
JA J. Alvarado
JV J. Valančiūnas
LN L. Nance Jr.
NM N. Marshall
TM T. Murphy III
VA Valanciunas
ZW Z. Williamson
DENAG A. Gordon
BK B. Key
CB C. Braun
CG C. Gillespie
DJ D. Jordan
JH J. Holiday
JH J. Huff
JM J. Murray
JO Jokic
KC K. Caldwell-Pope
MP M. Porter Jr.
NJ N. Jokić
PW P. Watson
RJ R. Jackson
ZN Z. Nnaji
NOP/DEN the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Nikola Jokic has another triple-double against New Orleans, Nuggets beat Pelicans 125-113
DENVER -- — Nikola Jokic had 27 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds for his 10th career triple-double against New Orleans in the Denver Nuggets ' 125-113 victory over the Pelicans on Friday night.
Jokic has 12 triple-doubles this season and 117 overall, with the 10 against the Pelicans the most versus one one opponent. He also has scored 25 or more points in 14 straight games against New Orleans.
Denver rebounded from a loss to Utah on Wednesday night to snap New Orleans’ seven-game road winning streak. “We played a little bit faster, I think,” Jokic said. “We were the ones who were aggressive. We pushed the pace. I think that was the difference.”
Michael Porter had 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Nuggets. Jamal Murray finished with 20 points and nine assists.
Zion Williamson scored 30 points for the Pelicans. Jonas Valanciunas added 17 and Larry Nance Jr . had 13.
“They got off to an early start in this building,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “They had a 37-point first quarter to 25 (for New Orleans); now it’s an uphill battle the rest of the game. That’s something they do well. They get off to early starts and then they played with a lead. We’ve got to be better starting a game.”
Nance hit a 3-pointer that pulled New Orleans to 95-80, but Reggie Jackson connected on a 3-pointer and then a hook shot in the waning seconds of the third quarter, extending Denver’s lead to 100-80 going into the final quarter.
Down by 22 points early in the fourth, New Orleans fought back to 118-105 on Williamson’s dunk with 2:49 remaining. But Murray answered with a fadeaway jumper off a feed from Jokic and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit a 3-pointer to put the game out of reach for the Pelicans.
Jokic delivered a highlight reel assist with a blind, behind-the-back and over-his-head alley-oop pass that Aaron Gordon caught at the rim and dunked home for Denver’s final points in the first half. CJ McCollum answered with a 3-pointer at the first-half buzzer but New Orleans trailed 66-51 at the break. Malone said he’s seen Jokic make a lot of memorable plays in his nine years with the team but ranked his latest head-turning pass at or near the top.
“I didn’t imagine the behind-the-back, over-the-head pass,” Malone said. “When you’re a young kid watching NBA basketball, that’s Magic Johnson, that’s `Pistol’ Pete Maravich , the guys that just had this pizazz to their game. Nikola can beat you a lot of ways and that was definitely one of the best passes I’ve seen him make.”
Jokic said he saw Gordon open and just wanted to get the ball to him as quickly as possible. “I just saw him for a blink of an eye, and I just wanted to pass to him as soon as I can,” Jokic said. “Because he's open in that moment, not a moment after that. So, that was the quickest way to pass him the ball.”