NBA: Jamal Murray puts up 35 as Nuggets run past Pelicans

Jamal Murray scored 35 points and dished out nine assists, while Peyton Watson added 31 points and seven rebounds, leading the visiting Denver Nuggets to a 122-116 victory over the struggling New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday.

Murray made five 3-pointers in his return from a two-game absence due to an ankle injury and illness. Watson, the reigning Western Conference Player of the Week, connected on 11 of 16 shots from the floor, helping Denver secure its fourth win in five games.

Tim Hardaway Jr. contributed 18 points off the bench for the short-handed Nuggets, who completed a three-game season sweep of New Orleans despite being dominated inside. Denver was outrebounded 51-32 and outscored 56-38 in the paint.

For the Pelicans, Trey Murphy III scored 31 points on 11-of-18 shooting. Saddiq Bey added 17 points, and Jordan Poole chipped in 16 off the bench. New Orleans has now lost 11 of its past 12 games.

Murphy’s driving layup tied the game at 114 with 1:02 remaining in the fourth quarter, but Watson quickly responded with a turnaround jumper to regain the lead for Denver. Murphy and Zion Williamson failed to score on the next possession, and Aaron Gordon’s dunk with 10.8 seconds left effectively sealed the win.

Earlier in the fourth quarter, Williamson converted a three-point play to put New Orleans ahead 100-94, but Denver answered with a seven-point run, including a 3-pointer and layup from Jalen Pickett.

In the second quarter, Hardaway made three consecutive free throws to give Denver a 35-31 lead, only for the Pelicans to respond with a 19-6 run. Watson then scored 13 of Denver’s next 17 points, narrowing the deficit to 62-58 with 40 seconds left in the half. New Orleans led 65-60 at halftime.

—Field Level Media/Reuters