Pelicans Blow 23 Point Lead in Stunning Overtime Loss to Nuggets
Gee Bino
DENVER — The New Orleans Pelicans had the lead, the scoring and enough separation to take a victory home. They left Ball Arena with another painful lesson in how quickly a game can disappear when the finish falls apart.
New Orleans surrendered a 23-point advantage and lost 141–135 in overtime to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, October 24. The Pelicans fell to 0–3, extending a frustrating opening stretch in which competitive performances have failed to become wins. Game recapComeback details
This defeat carried an especially sharp sting. The Pelicans had controlled the scoreboard for most of the night and still had a significant cushion in the closing minutes. They gave Denver enough opportunities to believe—and the Nuggets’ stars finished the job.
A commanding lead disappears
New Orleans led 108–89 entering the fourth quarter. Denver then won the period 37–18, sending the game to overtime at 126–126. The Nuggets outscored the Pelicans 15–9 in the extra session. Quarter-by-quarter recap
Stretch
Pelicans
Nuggets
First three quarters
108
89
Fourth quarter
18
37
Overtime
9
15
Those numbers explain why this loss deserves more than the usual discussion about a few missed shots. New Orleans had already created a winning position. The final challenge was to protect possessions, continue producing reasonable scoring chances and force Denver to use time while chasing the game.
Instead, the margin disappeared before the final horn of regulation.
The final cushion still was not enough
The Pelicans remained ahead 124–116 with 1:37 left. Three-pointers from Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, followed by an Aaron Gordon dunk, brought Denver back. Murray then made two free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt, tying the game with 16 seconds remaining. Closing sequence
That sequence is the heart of the disappointment. New Orleans did not need to manufacture a comeback or chase a difficult target. It needed a few sound possessions and a defense capable of making the Nuggets work without giving away points at the line.
A large lead offers protection only while a team continues to execute. Against an opponent with elite shot-makers, waiting for the clock to rescue the night is a dangerous approach.
The scoring was there
Trey Murphy III led New Orleans with 26 points, Dejounte Murray added 22, and Zion Williamson and Derik Queen scored 17 apiece. Queen also collected nine rebounds. Pelicans individual performances
There was enough production to show what this offense can become. Several players contributed, and New Orleans built its advantage through sustained scoring across the first three quarters.
The difficult question is why that production became harder to access when the game tightened. That is where spacing, initiation and the quality of the first action in a possession deserve attention. A late-clock attempt may be the final visible problem, but the breakdown can begin much earlier.
The Pelicans need an offensive structure they can trust when the opponent raises its pressure and takes away the first option.
Empty possessions open the door
New Orleans committed 18 turnovers and shot 11 of 38 from three-point range despite making 50.5 percent of its overall field-goal attempts. Team statistics
Those figures point to a team that created offense but gave away too many possessions and received inconsistent returns from outside.
The answer cannot simply be to stop shooting threes. The more useful question is whether the offense produces those attempts with balance, room and a clear purpose. An open shot created by paint pressure is different from an attempt taken because the possession has run out of ideas.
Ball security must also improve without turning the offense passive. New Orleans needs cleaner decisions that preserve its attacking strengths while reducing the mistakes that help an opponent build momentum.
Denver has the stars to punish a lapse
Jamal Murray scored 42 points, while Jokic finished with 35 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists. Trevon Brazile added seven points in overtime. Denver’s leading performances
The Nuggets deserve credit for continuing to compete while the scoreboard favored New Orleans. Their leading players turned the final stretch into a test the Pelicans could not pass.
For the defense, the lesson is specific: communication and second efforts must survive fatigue and pressure. A coverage plan loses value when the final rotation arrives late or a defender commits a damaging foul.
The Pelicans have to reach a point where their defensive identity remains visible when a game becomes uncomfortable.
Accountability has to produce an adjustment
Jamahl Mosley and his staff need to examine the closing combinations, the timing of their responses and the offensive actions available when the first option disappears. Players share the responsibility for making the next pass, protecting the ball and completing the defensive possession.
The final score alone does not prove that one substitution or one timeout caused the defeat. It does establish that the overall closing process failed after New Orleans had created a substantial advantage.
The useful response is a change that can be seen in the next close game: clearer initiation, more dependable possession management and defensive decisions that remain disciplined under pressure.
A rematch brings a quick test
The teams meet again Wednesday, October 28, in New Orleans. Upcoming rematch
That gives the Pelicans a direct opportunity to show whether this loss becomes a correction or simply another frustrating conversation.
Their first three quarters demonstrated their ability to create a winning position. Their finish showed how much work remains before that position becomes dependable.
PPR family: Which adjustment matters most before the rematch—late-game offense, ball security, defensive coverage or the closing lineup?
