The New Orleans Pelicans' struggles with late-game leads continued as they fell to the Denver Nuggets, 122-116, despite playing without the Nuggets' star center, Nikola Jokic. The Pelicans had a chance to secure a win, but they couldn't hold on to their lead, losing in the final moments of the game. Jamal Murray and Peyton Watson led the Nuggets' comeback with 35 and 31 points, respectively, outscoring the Pelicans 16-6 in the last four minutes. Jokic, the three-time NBA MVP and seven-time All-Star, has been sidelined since Dec. 29 due to a left knee injury. The Pelicans appeared in control for much of the game, holding a nine-point lead in the third quarter. However, they couldn't maintain their advantage, and the Nuggets made a late-game push, ultimately securing the win. Trey Murphy III led the Pelicans with 31 points, but the team struggled with turnovers, giving up 14 to the Nuggets' seven. The Pelicans' struggles with late-game leads have been a recurring issue, and they will need to find a solution if they want to turn their season around. The team will have a chance to bounce back on Wednesday night when they host the Brooklyn Nets at 7 p.m. on the Gulf Coast Sports and Entertainment Network.
