Jokic's near triple-double not enough to overcome Pelicans / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: USA TODAY Sports - Scanpix Credit USA TODAY Sports - Scanpix

Herbert Jones scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, Brandon Ingram had 23 points and 12 assists, and the visiting New Orleans Pelicans (20-32) beat the Denver Nuggets (28-24) 113-105 (27-29, 24-23, 31-30, 31-23) on Friday night.

Player of the Game EFF 32 Jaxson Hayes Points 22 Accuracy 9-9 Rebounds 11 Assists 1

Jayson Hayes had 22 points and 11 rebounds, Jonas Valanciunas scored 18 points and Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 10 points for the Pelicans, who ended a four-game, head-to-head losing streak to the Nuggets.

Nikola Jokic had 25 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists, Monte Morris scored 19 points and Will Barton finished with 17 for Denver, which has lost three straight.

With the game tied entering the fourth quarter, New Orleans scored the first four points to go ahead 86-82. Bones Hyland's 3-pointer pulled the Nuggets within a point. Jones and Jokic traded buckets from deep a short while later, and Denver led by two.

Jones hit another one from deep and a fastbreak layup as the Pelicans went up by five, but Denver rallied to tie it at 97 on a 10-foot Jokic hook shot with 5:40 left.

Jones then put New Orleans ahead for good with a running layup with 4:41 to go. Jokic missed an 18-footer and Valanciunas dunked off a Nuggets missed 3-point attempt to make it 101-97.

Denver called a timeout but Jones stole the ball on the ensuing possession and went in for a dunk to make it a six-point lead. Morris hit a 3-pointer, but four straight points by the Pelicans made it 107-100 with 1:59 left.

The Nuggets got within four on two occasions before New Orleans closed it out.

Denver led by a point at halftime, and the third quarter was tight throughout. The Pelicans grabbed a quick three-point lead in the first two minutes, but the Nuggets went on a 13-6 run to go up 67-63.

Valanciunas scored the next five points to put New Orleans back in front, and the lead seesawed for the rest of the period. Denver was up by four, but the Pelicans made four straight free throws, and the teams soon were tied at 82-all heading into the fourth.

Nuggets: Nikola Jokic 25 (4/7 2PT, 3/3 3PT, 8/8 FT, 12 REB, 9 AST, 4 TO), Monte Morris 19 (5/8 3PT, 4 AST), Will Barton 17 (7/11 2PT, 3 STL).

Pelicans: Herbert Jones 25 (5/6 2PT, 3/4 3PT, 6/6 FT), Brandon Ingram 23 (8/16 2PT, 7/7 FT, 12 AST, 2 BLK), Jaxson Hayes 22 (9/9 2PT, 11 REB), Jonas Valančiūnas 18 (7/10 2PT, 7 REB, 4 AST), Nickeil Alexander-Walker 10 (4 AST, 2 BLK, 5 TO).

Full game highlights:

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