NEW ORLEANS, La. — The Pelicans are still searching for their first win. New Orleans, La., fell 104-91 to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night at the Smoothie King Center, dropping to 0-4 after a rally in the fourth quarter came up short.
Denver never trailed and was up by 22 in the first half. The Pelicans clawed back and got within five points midway through the final quarter before the Nuggets answered from deep. Christian Braun hit two 3-pointers in a little over a minute, both set up by DeMar DeRozan, to push the lead back to 12 and settle it.
Zion Williamson was the bright spot for New Orleans with 25 points, more than anyone on the floor, and he made 10 of his 14 shots. Rookie big man Derik Queen came off the bench for 11 points and 12 rebounds, and the reserves outscored the Denver bench 36-19.
Outside shooting and ball security sank the Pelicans. They made only 7 of 30 tries from 3-point range and turned the ball over 19 times. Denver hit 12 of 31 from beyond the arc, five of them in the fourth quarter. The night got worse when guard Jordan Poole hurt his left ankle before halftime and sat out the rest of the game.
Nikola Jokic posted 21 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for the 200th triple-double of his career, joining Russell Westbrook as the only players to reach that mark. Jamal Murray led Denver with 23 points, and all five Nuggets starters scored in double figures. The win completed a two-game sweep of New Orleans.
There is little time to regroup. The Pelicans stay home and host the Sacramento Kings on Thursday, hoping to finally put a mark in the win column after a winless first week and a half of the season.
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