DENVER — In an electrifying game on Monday night, Michael Porter Jr. delivered a stellar performance with a season-best 36 points, leading the Denver Nuggets to a 125-113 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Nikola Jokic also made a significant impact, contributing 27 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists, marking his league-leading 23rd triple-double of the season, and the ninth in the last eleven games.

Jamal Murray supported the team with 20 points and eight assists, while Julian Strawther was a crucial asset off the bench, scoring 15 points. Zeke Nnaji stepped in to start for the injured Aaron Gordon, achieving a personal season-high with 12 points in his first game as a starter this season.

On the other side, Trey Murphy III shone brightly for the Pelicans, putting up a career-high 41 points. He was especially impressive in the earlier stages, scoring 39 of New Orleans’ first 85 points and bringing his team within eight points at the end of the third quarter, despite their significant deficit during the game. Murphy shot an impressive 13 out of 21 from the field, including eight out of twelve from three-point range, while his teammates struggled, managing only 37.3% shooting overall. CJ McCollum also contributed with 30 points, and Zion Williamson added 14.

Observations from the game revealed that the Nuggets are on a resurgence, now winners of three straight games following a three-game losing streak. They have won 11 of their last 15 outings, solidifying their fourth position in the Western Conference. In contrast, the Pelicans faced their sixth consecutive loss in a season riddled with injuries, despite a brief glimmer of hope earlier when they enjoyed a four-game winning streak.

A crucial moment in the match came when Murphy’s three-pointer tied the game at 21 during the first quarter, prompting the Nuggets to respond with a 14-2 run. They maintained the lead for the remainder of the game, with the Pelicans unable to close the gap to fewer than six points.

Impressively, Murphy’s recent performances have seen him average 37.7 points over the past three games, shooting at a remarkable 70.7% from the field and 63.6% from beyond the arc.

Looking ahead, the Nuggets and Pelicans are set to face off again on Wednesday in Denver for a rematch.