Zion Williamson scored 25 and Derik Queen supplied a double-double, but a rough opening and another stalled finish sent New Orleans to a 104–91 loss.

NEW ORLEANS — For a moment, the Pelicans had given the Smoothie King Center a reason to believe. Zion Williamson’s fourth-quarter three-pointer brought New Orleans within five, putting a game Denver had controlled back within reach.

Jamal Murray quickly took that hope away.

The Nuggets guard answered with a three-pointer and a driving finish, restoring a double-digit lead and helping Denver close out a 104–91 victory Wednesday night. The Pelicans fell to 0–4 under Jamahl Mosley, carrying familiar questions into another game that arrives almost immediately.

After several days to recover, practice and reassess, New Orleans still spent too much of the night repairing damage. The Pelicans fought back from a 22-point deficit, but their offense could not sustain the push when the game tightened.

Quick Facts

• Final: Nuggets 104, Pelicans 91.
• Records: New Orleans 0–4; Denver 2–2.
• Pelicans leaders: Williamson scored 25; Queen finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
• Denver’s milestone: Nikola Jokić recorded his 200th regular-season triple-double.
• Next: Sacramento visits New Orleans on Thursday, October 29.

Game result and individual figures: final box score. Milestone and next opponent: Associated Press recap.

A Slow Start Put the Pelicans in Trouble Early

Denver led 37–18 after the first quarter and stretched the advantage to 44–22 in the second. New Orleans recovered enough to reach halftime down 57–45, then cut the margin to 79–73 entering the fourth.

The quarter-by-quarter picture shows how much work the Pelicans had to do just to make the game competitive.

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Denver	37	20	22	25	104
New Orleans	18	27	28	18	91

Wednesday’s opening deserves attention alongside the finish. Mosley’s team had the benefit of preparation time against an opponent it had just faced. Falling behind that heavily gave Denver control of the night and forced New Orleans to spend energy climbing back.

The response showed persistence. A dependable opening group still needs to establish a better standard before the scoreboard requires a rescue.

Zion Created a Chance; Denver Closed It

Williamson’s three-pointer cut the deficit to 88–83. Murray’s immediate five-point response pushed it back to ten. Christian Braun later added timely perimeter shooting as Denver kept the Pelicans from completing the comeback, according to Reuters’ account of the closing stretch.

That sequence brought the late-game conversation into focus again. A basket that makes the crowd believe has to be followed by a defensive possession that keeps the opportunity alive. The Pelicans could not string enough of those possessions together.

Williamson finished with 25 points on 10-for-14 shooting. His efficiency gave New Orleans an offensive foundation. The next challenge is making that pressure useful across a complete lineup, with timely passes, dependable spacing and actions that leave teammates ready to contribute.

A closer can create a chance. The other four players still have to help preserve it.

The Perimeter Gap Was Too Large

New Orleans made 7 of 30 three-pointers, while Denver went 12 of 31. That produced a 15-point advantage for the Nuggets from beyond the arc in a game decided by 13.

The Pelicans also committed 19 turnovers, according to the final statistics. Those empty trips reduced the margin for a team already struggling to turn perimeter attempts into points.

The useful film review should examine how the shots were created. Was the ball arriving early enough? Did a drive produce an advantage before the kick-out? Was a player receiving the pass in position to shoot, or being asked to manufacture something as the clock ran down?

Those questions matter because simply demanding better shooting does not give the offense a repeatable solution. New Orleans needs to create attempts it can trust while preserving the pressure Williamson generates near the basket.

Queen Gave the Frontcourt Something to Build On

Queen collected 11 points and 12 rebounds in 25 minutes off the bench. With Yves Missi unavailable, that production strengthens the case for giving Queen a substantial, clearly defined role.

There is work to address, too: Queen committed five turnovers. More responsibility should come with clear decisions as a screener, passer and finisher, alongside an emphasis on protecting the ball.

Mosley again started DeAndre Jordan at center. Karlo Matković received 18 reserve minutes, and New Orleans outscored Denver by 16 while he was on the floor. That figure warrants a closer look at the combinations around him; a single-game plus-minus needs the context of opponents, teammates and game situations.

The practical goal is a center rotation that makes sense from one stint to the next. Queen’s rebounding offers a foundation, Matković supplies another option, and Jordan gives the staff veteran size. Their assignments should help the guards understand what to expect on both ends.

Related coverage: How Missi’s injury changes the Pelicans’ frontcourt.

Herb’s Role Remains Part of Mosley’s Evaluation

Jones remained a reserve and played 19 minutes. The opening lineup again featured Dejounte Murray, Jeremiah Fears, Trey Murphy III, Williamson and Jordan.

The case for a larger Jones role remains worth testing, particularly in groups that need a defensive assignment stabilized. His involvement should be connected to the possessions New Orleans needs him to influence, with enough continuity to establish a rhythm.

Bey and Mathurin also belong in the staff’s review of wing combinations. The objective is to find groups that can defend without leaving the offense short of movement, shooting or a second attacker.

Our Pelicans–Nuggets preview examined those starting and closing decisions. Wednesday added another game of evidence. Mosley now has to decide which adjustments deserve an immediate opportunity against Sacramento.

Jokić Reached a Milestone While Murray Supplied the Answer

Jokić finished with 21 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for regular-season triple-double No. 200. Murray led Denver with 23 points.

Their contributions illustrated the difficulty of finishing a comeback against this opponent. Jokić could keep the offense connected through his passing and interior work. Murray could turn a brief opening into a scoring response before New Orleans built momentum.

The Pelicans reduced the damage enough to create an opportunity. They still needed a better answer when Denver’s leading players took control of the decisive possessions.

Poole’s Ankle Adds Another Concern

Jordan Poole left with an ankle injury and did not return. He finished with two points in seven minutes, according to RotoWire’s injury update. The team’s announcement identified the left ankle.

His availability for Sacramento requires a further update. Wednesday’s exit does not establish the severity of the injury or a recovery timetable.

With Missi already sidelined, another absence would place more pressure on the rotation. The staff needs a plan for the available players while the medical picture develops.

What It Means

Four games leave ample room for improvement. They also provide specific problems to address: an opening group that fell into a large deficit, an offense that struggled from outside and another fourth quarter that produced only 18 points.

The Pelicans have now lost twice to Denver in different ways. They surrendered a major lead in the previous overtime defeat; Wednesday required a comeback they could not complete.

That makes the next response more important than another general promise to execute better. Mosley’s adjustments should be visible in the opening possessions, the substitution pattern and the actions the Pelicans return to when pressure rises.

What’s Next

New Orleans hosts Sacramento on Thursday night, giving the Pelicans a quick chance to earn their first win.

There is little time to dwell on Wednesday. There is also enough evidence to demand a sharper beginning and a more dependable finish.

PPR family: What should Mosley change first against the Kings—the starting five, the center rotation or the late-game offense? Subscribe to Pelican Post Game Report for coverage and postgame reaction with Big Q, DC and Lexxah.

About the author: Gee Bino cover