Nuggets bring enough paint scoring to beat Pelicans despite making only four 3s

Bennett Durando, The Denver Post on Nov 14, 2026

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

The Denver Nuggets wrapped up their four-game road trip Saturday with a 116-108 win over Pelicans, completing a sweep of the season series against New Orleans. They improved to 7-4 ahead of a three-game home stand, which begins Monday against the Phoenix Suns.

Ball movement brilliance

The Nuggets decided to test whether you can win an NBA game in 2026 while pretending the 3-point shot was never invented. They went 4 for 16 from deep. Cam Johnson was their only consistently aggressive outside shooter, but he went cold, finishing 1 for 6.

Denver’s offense was at its best when it was picking apart the Pelicans with off-ball movement and interior passing. Sixteen of the team’s 29 assists were in the first half. Aaron Gordon slipped out of a screen to receive an early pass from Nikola Jokic, earning a trip to the foul line. In one amusing sequence, Jokic and Jamal Murray ran a reverse high-low, with Jokic entering to Murray for a post layup.

Christian Braun snuck into the lane repeatedly, and Jokic and Gordon often found him for layups or free-throw opportunities. When New Orleans made a run to get within six points in the third quarter, David Adelman drew up a play out of the timeout that led to Jokic throwing a dart to Braun at the rim. He converted an and-one, part of a 17-point, seven-rebound night for the shooting guard.

Jokic finished with 26 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists. Murray added 23 points, seven rebounds (all after halftime) and nine assists, helping the team build on its 34-assist performance Wednesday in Memphis.

Midrange malaise

But when the Nuggets got bogged down or inefficient offensively, it was a combination of turnovers and becoming too reliant on the midrange after turning down 3s.

That’s always part of the package with DeMar DeRozan spearheading the bench minutes — but Murray was also determined to get to his spots inside the arc instead of on the perimeter Saturday. He had decent justification in that he was making most of his midrange jumpers. He shot 9 for 13 from 2-point range. But he attempted only three 3s, far fewer than Denver wants.

The Pelicans were out-attempting Denver from the perimeter 19-9 at halftime, helping them stay within five. The Nuggets made only one 3-pointer in the second half, making it harder to blow the game open with a quick run. But they did enough with their defense and other offensive levers to hang on. Braun had four steals. Murray had two blocks. The team scored 60 in the paint.

“I just really wish we’d shoot more 3s,” Adelman joked to reporters in New Orleans after the game.

Bagley leads decisive run

Marvin Bagley III was an essential ingredient. With New Orleans down 86-82 early in the fourth quarter, Denver’s backup center came up with a huge block, igniting a Nuggets run. He contested a shot and grabbed the rebound on Denver’s next defensive possession, then he scored a key bucket as the lead expanded back to double digits.

In the second quarter, Bagley and Zion Williamson traded buckets twice to begin Jokic’s rest stint, prompting Adelman to swap out a struggling Spencer Jones for Aaron Gordon. That meant Gordon needed another rest before halftime. Bagley earned a few extra minutes at power forward next to Jokic. He amassed seven points and seven rebounds in 13 minutes. He finished with a +10, the only Nuggets bench player with a positive plus-minus.

____