Jamal Murray (35p, 9a) and reigning Western Conference Player of the Week Peyton Watson (31p, 7r, 5a) combined for 66 points to steal a 122-116 thriller in New Orleans, dropping the Pelicans to 1-11 in their last 12 and completing a 3-0 season sweep without Nikola Jokić.
The Denver Nuggets just reminded the Western Conference they can win a street fight without the two-time MVP. Shorthanded, undersized and out-rebounded 50-33, Jamal Murray and Peyton Watson weaponized shot-making in the clutch to escape Smoothie King Center with a 122-116 victory that keeps Denver rolling (4-1 in 2026) and pushes New Orleans deeper into the lottery mud.
Fourth-quarter flurry flips the script
With 1:02 left, Trey Murphy III—who poured in a career-high-tying 31—finished a layup to knot the score at 114. Denver never trailed again. Watson answered with a 15-foot pull-up at the top of the key, Aaron Gordon followed with a baseline dunk off Murray’s feed, and Murray iced it with two free throws at 8.6 seconds to make it 120-114. The 8-2 close encapsulated Denver’s identity: two primary shot-creators who don’t need a clipboard to know who takes the biggest shots.
Murray’s final frame: 12 points, 3-3 FG, 2-2 3PT, perfect in the money time. He now averages 9.2 fourth-quarter points since January 1, third among all West guards behind only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Stephen Curry per NBA.com tracking data.
Watson’s post-award breakout
Named Western Conference Player of the Week hours before tip, Watson played like he wanted to keep the trophy. He torched the Pelicans for 15 second-quarter points on 6-6 shooting, then delivered the cold-blooded dagger in the final minute. The 22-year-old wing is now averaging 22.8 PPG on 56-48-85 splits in his last five, forcing Michael Malone to keep him on the floor in crunch time even when Michael Porter Jr. returns.
Inside the numbers: how Denver survived the glass
- Minus Nikola Jokić (rest), Denver surrendered 17 offensive rebounds and were out-rebounded 50-33.
- They compensated by shooting 52% overall and 40% from three, generating 30 assists on 47 baskets.
- New Orleans’ 22 second-chance points were neutralized by Denver’s 15-6 edge in fast-break points and 24-14 margin at the stripe.
Pelicans’ spiral reaches 11 losses in 12 games
Despite 31 from Murphy, 17 from Saddiq Bey and a double-double (10p, 13r) from rookie Derik Queen, New Orleans fell to 0-3 vs. Denver and 8-31 overall. The Pels are 28th in offensive rating since Christmas and dead-last in clutch win percentage (.167). With Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram still sidelined, the front office is openly shopping veterans ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline according to league sources.
What it means going forward
For Denver, the victory keeps them within a half-game of the West’s top seed and proves their offense can hum when Murray—not Jokić—runs the symphony. Watson’s emergence gives Malone a legitimate three-level wing defender who can close games, invaluable come playoff matchups against Luka, Edwards or Booker.
For New Orleans, every competitive loss only tightens the vise on VP David Griffin. The franchise owns its 2026 first-rounder but owes a top-10-protected pick to Portland in 2027; the worse they finish, the better the odds of keeping that selection. Don’t be surprised if Murphy—who is extension-eligible this summer—becomes the marquee name on the trade block if the losses keep piling up.
Next up
Nuggets: head to Dallas on the second night of a back-to-back Wednesday, where Luka Dončić is questionable with ankle soreness.
Pelicans: host Brooklyn on Wednesday, giving fans one more look at a potential teardown roster before the trade winds howl.
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