The Denver Nuggets defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 141-135 in overtime on Saturday, October 24, 2026, as Jamal Murray led all scorers with 42 points at Ball Arena. Nikola Jokic added 35 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists, helping Denver overcome a 19-point deficit entering the fourth quarter.
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | OT | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Pelicans | 38 | 35 | 35 | 18 | 9 | 135 |
| Denver Nuggets | 24 | 33 | 32 | 37 | 15 | 141 |
First Quarter: Pelicans Establish a 14-Point Lead
New Orleans opened with a 38-24 first quarter, putting Denver behind early. The Pelicans produced their highest-scoring period of the night and established an advantage that continued to grow through the third.
Second Quarter: New Orleans Stays Ahead
Denver increased its output to 33 points in the second, but New Orleans answered with 35. The Pelicans entered halftime leading 73-57, having scored at least 35 points in each of the opening two quarters.
Third Quarter: Denver Faces a 19-Point Deficit
The Pelicans outscored the Nuggets 35-32 in the third to extend their lead to 108-89. Through three quarters, New Orleans had won every period and positioned itself for a first victory of the season.
Fourth Quarter: Nuggets Draw Even
Denver reversed the pattern with a 37-18 fourth quarter. The Nuggets held New Orleans to half its average output from the first three periods while generating their best offensive quarter of the game. That 19-point advantage brought the teams level at 126-126 and forced overtime.
Overtime: Denver Completes the Comeback
The Nuggets outscored the Pelicans 15-9 in the extra period to secure the six-point win. Across the fourth quarter and overtime, Denver held a 52-27 scoring advantage.
Key Performers
- Jamal Murray, Nuggets: Led all scorers with 42 points, providing Denver’s highest individual scoring total.
- Nikola Jokic, Nuggets: Delivered a triple-double with 35 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists, plus four blocks. He led Denver in both rebounds and assists.
- Trey Murphy III, Pelicans: Paced New Orleans with 26 points and added six rebounds.
- Jordan Poole, Pelicans: Led his team with seven assists as New Orleans finished with 33.
- DeAndre Jordan, Pelicans: Collected a team-high nine rebounds.
NerdSports Stat: Denver made four more 3-pointers and six more free throws than New Orleans, creating an 18-point advantage in those categories despite finishing with two fewer made field goals overall.
Game Analysis
Late Scoring Shift Decides the Result
The biggest change came in New Orleans’ scoring output. After totaling 108 points through three quarters, the Pelicans managed just 27 across the fourth quarter and overtime. Denver paired that reduction with 52 points of its own, turning a 19-point deficit into a six-point victory.
Murray and Jokic combined for 77 points, accounting for 54.6% of Denver’s total. Jokic also supplied 10 of the Nuggets’ 26 assists, giving Denver a major source of both scoring and playmaking.
Three-Pointers and Free Throws Make the Difference
New Orleans shot better overall, making 50 of 99 field-goal attempts for 50.5%, compared with Denver’s 48 of 99 for 48.5%. The Pelicans also finished with a 33-26 advantage in assists.
Denver found its edge beyond the arc and at the foul line. The Nuggets made 15 of 47 3-point attempts, while New Orleans went 11 of 38. Denver also converted 30 of 39 free throws, compared with the Pelicans’ 24 of 30. Those advantages offset New Orleans’ greater number of made baskets.
Rebounding was nearly even, with Denver holding a 51-50 edge. Rather than a broad statistical advantage, the Nuggets’ victory came through their late scoring turnaround and the added value of their 3-pointers and free throws.
Closing Context: Denver Earns Its First Win
Denver improved to 1-1 overall and 1-0 at home, while New Orleans fell to 0-3, including 0-2 on the road. The Nuggets next face the Golden State Warriors on Monday, October 26, at 7:00 PM PDT. The Pelicans’ next scheduled game is a rematch against Denver on Wednesday, October 28, at 5:00 PM PDT, offering an immediate opportunity to respond to this overtime loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Denver Nuggets defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 141-135 in overtime on October 24, 2026.
Jamal Murray scored 42 points. His individual shooting percentage was not provided in the available game statistics.
After the win, the Denver Nuggets sit 1-1 in the Western Conference.
Nikola Jokic was the standout all-around performer with 35 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists and four blocks. Jamal Murray led all scorers with 42 points.
