Feb 3, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Jordan Hawkins (24) defends on Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) in the first quarter at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Michael Porter Jr. scored a season-high 36 points, Nikola Jokic had 27 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists, and the host Denver Nuggets beat the New Orleans Pelicans 125-113 in the NBA on Monday night.
Jamal Murray finished with 20 points and eight assists, Julian Strawther contributed 15 points and Christian Braun had 11 for Denver, which was missing three rotation players: Russell Westbrook (hamstring), Peyton Watson (right knee sprain) and Aaron Gordon (right calf injury management).
Article continues after this advertisementZeke Nnaji started in place of Gordon and finished with 12 points.
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Trey Murphy III tied his career high with 41 points and matched a season high with eight 3-pointers. He had 24 points on 8 of 10 shooting in the third quarter.
Article continues after this advertisementCJ McCollum had 17 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter, Zion Williamson scored 14 and Karlo Matkovic grabbed 11 rebounds for New Orleans, which lost its sixth straight.
Article continues after this advertisementDenver went ahead by 20 in the first minute of the third quarter but couldn’t shake the Pelicans behind Murphy’s big period. He hit two 3-pointers and dunked off a lob pass by Williamson, then made another from deep in a 15-5 run that made it 75-65.
Article continues after this advertisementFeb 3, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Detailed view of Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) during the first quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
free spins no deposit bonusThe Nuggets responded to lead 91-72 after two free throws by Jokic, but New Orleans hung around. Murphy hit a 3-pointer and converted a three-point play, Jose Alvarado hit from behind the arc and Murphy capped his 24-point quarter with two free throws that drew the Pelicans within 93-85 heading into the fourth.
Strawther and Porter opened the final quarter with 3-pointers, but McCollum answered with a pair from long range to make it 99-91. Denver scored six straight to go back up by double digits, but McCollum got New Orleans within 105-96 with a four-point play.
Article continues after this advertisementJokic completed his 23rd triple-double of the season with assists on four straight possessions that helped the Nuggets close it out.
Denver went on a 12-2 run to end the first quarter with a 10-point lead. New Orleans got within six, but the Nuggets finished the second quarter strong to take a 68-50 lead at halftime. –Field Level Media
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But oil prices fell as markets were unimpressed with a pledge by China’s finance minister to boost the world’s second-biggest economy.
The 91-, 182-, and 364-day T-bills fetched average rates of 5.444 percent, 5.668 percent, and 5.623 percent, respectively.