By Rell Wright, Pelicans Contributor
The New Orleans Pelicans‘ woes continued as they suffered a crushing 144-119 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, marking their seventh straight defeat. Despite a valiant effort from Zion Williamson, who led the team with 28 points, the Pelicans couldn’t keep pace with Denver’s high-octane offense.
Trey Murphy III contributed 25 points, maintaining his impressive scoring streak after back-to-back 40-point performances. However, New Orleans’ defense faltered against the Nuggets’ well-rounded attack.
Denver’s Michael Porter Jr. tied his career high with 39 points and added 12 rebounds, while Nikola Jokic delivered a masterful 38-point, 10-assist performance. The game’s pivotal moment came late in the third quarter when Porter’s layup broke a 72-72 tie, igniting a 41-23 Nuggets run that sealed the outcome.
The Pelicans struggled to contain Denver’s ball movement, allowing a staggering 40 assists and 74 points in the paint. As New Orleans prepares for a Saturday matchup against Sacramento, the team will need to regroup and address defensive lapses if they hope to end their losing streak.
