The Denver Nuggets overcame a transcendent performance from Anthony Davis and a second half deficit to win 118-111 in an overtime thriller over the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans Sunday night.
Will Barton led the Nuggets with a career-high 25 points – including nine rebounds – and hit what might have been the biggest shot of the night to send the game into a second overtime. Kenneth Faried added 20 points and ten rebounds.
Ty Lawson, Jameer Nelson, and Danilo Gallinari also hit double-figures in points, and the Nuggets needed absolutely everyone to overcome Anthony Davis, who flirted with a quadruple-double before finishing with 36 points, 14 rebounds, nine blocks, and a career-high seven assists.
Plenty of player hit big shots to keep this game alive. With under a minute to go in regulation, interim head coach Melvin Hunt drew up two plays out of timeout, and both ended up with Lawson dishing to Faried for scores – especially impressive, given that Faried had to finish over Davis. When Davis missed his game-winner on the other end, the Nuggets were headed to overtime.
Once again, with Denver three points and just 14 seconds left, Hunt drew up a play that came up big. This time, Barton drained a three, and after Tyreke Evans missed a three-pointer, a second overtime was in store, which the Nuggets won handily thanks to big shots by Faried and Gallinari.
Hunt rested Wilson Chandler, Darrell Arthur, and Randy Foye in order to check out some of the younger players, but due to the close nature of the game, rookies Erick Green and Gary Harris didn’t see as much court time as Hunt may have wanted.
Jusuf Nurkic got his first start since returning from an ankle injury, and finished with six points and eight rebounds in 22 minutes.
The Nuggets won’t get much rest after a long night – they’ll travel to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies Monday. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. MT.
Zach Marburger is a staff writer for Mile High Sports. He can be reached via email at zmarburger@milehighsports.com or on Twitter @BurchBurger.
