Nuggets 115, Pelicans 98
NEW ORLEANS -- Forward Danilo Gallinari scored a season-high 32 points, including 15 in the third quarter, to power the Denver Nuggets to a 115-98 victory over the injury-ravaged New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night at the Smoothie King Center.
With New Orleans All-Star forward Anthony Davis forced to leave the game due to a left shoulder injury midway through the first quarter, Gallinari lit up the Pelicans (1-10) from the perimeter.
Gallinari connected on five of eight from behind the 3-point arc. He made all six shots he attempted in the third quarter as Denver erased a 53-51 halftime deficit to take an 83-75 advantage into the final quarter.
The Nuggets (6-5) made 15 of 30 3-point attempts. They got 17 points from forward Will Barton and 16 apiece from guards Gary Harris and Jameer Nelson.
New Orleans received 24 points from forward Ryan Anderson and 19 from guard Eric Gordon.
Already down four other players to injuries or illness, the Pelicans sustained yet another blow when Davis, their leading scorer and rebounder, got hurt and was taken to the locker room for evaluation.
Davis, who missed his only three shots in six minutes, did not return. With his injury and the stomach ailment that sidelined center Omer Asik, the Pelicans had just four available players taller than 6-foot-6.
Davis, who averages 25.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, rubbed his left shoulder in obvious pain, and he left the floor shortly after the Pelicans called timeout.
Despite his absence, the Pelicans used a 32-20 second quarter in which they made 14 of 19 shots to take a two-point halftime lead. The Pelicans were led by Anderson and guard Eric Gordon with 11 points each in the first half, and forward Dante Cunningham added 11.
The Nuggets took the ball to the basket at will in the first quarter, but they made just seven of 22 shots in the second quarter. Gallinari led Denver with 14 first-half points.
The Pelicans cut the deficit to 95-90 with 5:15 remaining but could not get any closer. Nelson hit back-to-back 3-pointers as the Nuggets regained control.
NOTES: Even with the Pelicans losing nine of their first 10 games, coach Alvin Gentry has maintained his sense of humor. After a pause, he began his pregame press conference Tuesday night by telling reporters: "All right, shoot! ... No, I shouldn't say that. Are there any questions?" ... Although Gentry didn't give exact figures, he said the Pelicans rank sixth in the league in first-half defensive efficiency but 30th in second-half defense. The Pelicans have yielded the most points in the league (109.4 per game), allowing 51.9 points in the first half and 57.5 points in the second. ... Denver coach Mike Malone said the key to slowing down New Orleans F Anthony Davis is to play him physically. "Try to get into him, make him work for everything, limit his easy opportunities," Malone said. "Obviously, he's looking to stretch his game out and take a lot more 3-point shots this year."