Field Level Media
31 Mar 2023, 10:49 GMT+10
Brandon Ingram produced 31 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists as the visiting New Orleans Pelicans beat the short-handed Denver Nuggets 107-88 on Thursday night.
Ingram's second triple-double of the season helped the Pelicans (39-38) move into a tie for seventh place in the Western Conference with the Minnesota Timberwolves (39-38).
Jonas Valanciunas put up 15 points and 12 rebounds for New Orleans, which won for the sixth time in seven games. CJ McCollum scored 23 points and Trey Murphy III added 15.
Jamal Murray had 21 points, Bruce Brown scored 18, Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun finished with 11 each and Michael Porter Jr. had 10 points for Denver (51-25). The first-place Nuggets, whose four-game winning streak ended, are up by three games over the Memphis Grizzlies (48-28) in the Western Conference with six remaining for both teams.
Denver played without two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who was sidelined due to right calf tightness. Jokic went through pregame warmups but was ruled out before tip-off.
It is the ninth game Jokic has missed this season. He sat out three games in November due to health and safety protocols.
The Pelicans took advantage of his absence early, building a 10-point lead in the first quarter. Valanciunas grabbed eight rebounds in the first seven minutes.
The Nuggets got within 44-38 on Murray's third 3-pointer of the half, but New Orleans took a 50-40 lead into intermission.
The Pelicans built on the advantage to start the second half. Valanciunas had a tip-in, Ingram hit a layup and 14-foot floater, McCollum drained his first 3-pointer and Ingram connected on another jumper to make it 59-44 early in the third.
McCollum hit three more shots from behind the arc to increase New Orleans' lead to 70-53, two free throws from Ingram made it an 18-point game and Dyson Daniels sank a 3-pointer to put the Pelicans in front 78-59 with 3:06 left in the third.
Denver closed the quarter on an 11-4 run to get within 82-70 heading into the fourth.
New Orleans led by 15 early in the fourth, but two thunderous dunks by Braun got the Nuggets within 88-79. Murphy hit a 3-pointer and Ingram made two free throws to boost the gap to 93-81, and the Pelicans closed it out.
--Field Level MediaGet a daily dose of Herald Globe news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Herald Globe.
More InformationDUBAI, U.A.E.: A cargo ship flagged under Liberia, known as the Eternity C, sank in the Red Sea following an attack executed by Yemen's...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Trump administration has started sending some weapons to Ukraine again, just a week after the Pentagon told officials...
ECAULT BEACH, France: On clear days, the white cliffs of the United Kingdom, are visible from northern France, where men, women, and...
ATLANTA, Georgia: The United States is facing its worst measles outbreak in more than three decades, with 1,288 confirmed cases so...
In the past month alone, 23 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza—three more than the number of remaining living hostages held...
LONDON, U.K.: At least 13 people are believed to have taken their own lives as a result of the U.K.'s Post Office scandal, in which...
(Photo credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images) The potential tying run had just reached base Saturday when Milwaukee Brewers third baseman...
(Photo credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images) Left-hander Sean Manaea finally appears set to make his season debut for the New York Mets....
(Photo credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images) It was fitting that the Astros had to dig deep into their reconfigured bench in the latter...
(Photo credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images) After hitting their season's low point a week ago, the Cleveland Guardians have reversed...
(Photo credit: David Richard-Imagn Images) In a span of 10 pitches Saturday, the Cincinnati Reds ensured they wouldn't be swept for...
(Photo credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images) The Boston Red Sox will be looking to extend their winning streak to 10 games Sunday...