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In a thrilling home opener at Ball Arena, the Denver Nuggets rallied from a 23-point first-half deficit to force overtime and ultimately claim a 141-135 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night. The win evened Denver's record at 1-1 and marked the third-largest comeback in franchise history.
Jamal Murray paced the Nuggets with 42 points and 6 assists, shooting 12-of-25 from the field and 8-of-16 from three-point range. Nikola Jokic delivered an MVP-caliber stat line of 35 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals, and 4 blocks on 12-of-23 shooting. The All-Star duo combined for 77 points, a stark contrast to their struggles in the season opener.
Rookie Trevon Brazile continued to impress, following up his 12-rebound debut with 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 6-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-7 from beyond the arc. The 23-year-old second-round pick played the entire overtime period alongside Denver's starters and made crucial plays down the stretch.
Key Analysis
Despite the comeback, Denver's defense and rebounding were glaring weaknesses for three quarters. The Pelicans scored at least 35 points in each of the first three periods, shot 80% on two-pointers, and won the rebound battle by 11. Trey Murphy III and Dejounte Murray exploited Denver's defense, and the Nuggets struggled to get stops. Head coach Michael Adelman acknowledged the need for improvement, but the win showcased the team's resilience and the star power of Murray and Jokic.