Peyton Watson Leads Nuggets Past Pelicans in Hard-Fought Victory
The New Orleans Pelicans’ struggles continued Wednesday night, as they dropped their seventh straight game, falling 125-118 to the Denver Nuggets at the Smoothie King Center. It was a night of mixed performances, where the team’s effort was evident, but the results just didn’t go their way.
Zion Williamson returned to the court for the first time since November 2, finishing with 14 points, six rebounds, and five assists on 6-of-13 shooting. While his impact was noticeable—New Orleans held a +14 advantage when he was on the floor—he was far from spectacular, shooting under 50 percent once again. The Pelicans showed signs of life when Williamson played, but consistency remained elusive.
The real star of the night was rookie Peyton Watson. Watson was electric, posting a career-high 32 points on 13-of-19 shooting, adding a strong presence on the boards with additional rebounds. His performance kept the Pelicans competitive throughout the game, and for stretches, it seemed like he might single-handedly push his team to a win.
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New Orleans started the game well, taking a 30-26 lead after the first quarter. By halftime, however, Denver had pulled ahead 62-58. The third quarter, as has often been the case for coach Willie Green’s team, turned into a nightmare. The Nuggets outscored New Orleans 36-26, building a 98-84 lead heading into the fourth. From there, the Pelicans never truly threatened to regain control.
Despite the setback, New Orleans showed heart in the final minutes, going on a 10-0 run to cut the deficit to nine points with three minutes remaining. Nikola Jokic, who had a near triple-double with 28 points, 12 assists, and 11 rebounds, fouled out with 2:44 left, and New Orleans drew within 118-111. But Jonas Valanciunas, a former Pelican, hit key mid-range shots to put the Nuggets back in command. Watson’s dunk with 47 seconds left narrowed the gap to 120-114, yet Jamal Murray sealed the game with crucial free throws.
Shooting woes plagued New Orleans, with the team hitting just 21 percent from beyond the arc (7-of-34). Denver, on the other hand, shot an efficient 55 percent from the field. The Nuggets’ bench also outscored New Orleans’ reserves 33-26, and Denver recorded 35 assists compared to New Orleans’ 26. Trey Murphy contributed 23 points, and Jeremiah Fears added 16, but it wasn’t enough to stop the losing streak.
The Pelicans, now 2-13 on the season, will look to regroup as they travel to Dallas on Friday night. Their earlier win there on November 5 was one of only two victories this season, highlighting how critical it is for the team to find consistency and capitalize on bright performances like Watson’s if they hope to turn the season around.
It was a night where effort was never lacking, but the execution fell short. Still, Peyton Watson’s breakout performance offered a glimpse of hope amid the Pelicans’ ongoing struggles.
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