Pelicans eliminated from contention with loss to Nuggets
NEW ORLEANS -- Danilo Gallinari led seven players in double figures with 28 points, and Denver took advantage of two Jrue Holiday turnovers in the final 15 seconds as the Nuggets defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 134-131 Tuesday night at the Smoothie King Center.
The defeat eliminated the Pelicans (33-45) from playoff contention in the Western Conference. The Nuggets (37-40) moved within one game of Portland for the eighth playoff spot in the West, at least temporarily. The Trail Blazers were playing in Utah later in the night.
The Nuggets led 128-120 with 2:51 left, but the Pelicans closed 130-128 with 51 seconds left, when Anthony Davis scored on a lob feed from DeMarcus Cousins.
After Denver went up 131-128, Cousins nailed a 3-pointer from the top of the key to tie the game at 131 with 30.5 seconds left. Wilson Chandler gave the Nuggets a 132-131 lead with 18.2 seconds left by hitting the second of two free throws after being fouled on a drive to the basket by Cousins.
But with a chance to set up the final shot, Holiday took an inbounds pass from E'Twaun Moore and dribbled the ball off his leg for a critical turnover with 15.3 second left. Denver led 133-131 when Emmanuel Mudiay made 1 of 2 free throws with 9.3 second left.
On the Pelicans' next possession, Holiday threw a lazy pass near the top of the key for Cousins, but the pass was deflected and intercepted by Gary Harris.
The Nuggets also got 23 points from Harris, and Nikola Jokic scored 21.
Davis led all scorers with 41 points, and Cousins added 30 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists in a losing cause.
The Nuggets used a 17-5 run in the first 5:07 of the fourth quarter to take a 119-110 lead. Emmanuel Mudiay hit a pair of 3-pointers, and Gallinari added a 3-pointer of his own to give Denver its largest lead of the game.
Davis continued his assault with 12 third-quarter points as New Orleans took a 105-102 lead into the fourth quarter.
NOTES: The Pelicans played their final home game of the season and finished 21-20. "It's been a roller coaster," coach Alvin Gentry said. "Obviously, adding DeMarcus (Cousins) to the mix was an adjustment, but I think everyone can see that those two guys (Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins) can coexist and be very effective. We've just got to find a way to make the whole thing come together." ... Denver coach Michael Malone said he believes the Davis-Cousins tandem will be a force next year. "DeMarcus Cousins is shooting 50 percent from three in the last five games, so they have an inside/outside attack," Malone said.