New Orleans Pelicans (12-38, 14th in the Western Conference) vs. Denver Nuggets (31-19, fourth in the Western Conference)
Denver; Wednesday, 9 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: New Orleans plays the Denver Nuggets after Trey Murphy III scored 41 points in the Pelicans' 125-113 loss to the Denver Nuggets.
The Nuggets are 18-12 in conference matchups. Denver averages 120.6 points and has outscored opponents by 4.2 points per game.
The Pelicans are 6-22 against conference opponents. New Orleans gives up 118.3 points to opponents while being outscored by 8.4 points per game.
The Nuggets make 50.5% of their shots from the field this season, which is 2.2 percentage points higher than the Pelicans have allowed to their opponents (48.3%). The Pelicans' 44.6% shooting percentage from the field this season is 2.0 percentage points lower than the Nuggets have allowed to their opponents (46.6%).
TOP PERFORMERS: Nikola Jokic is averaging 29.5 points, 12.9 rebounds, 10.3 assists and 1.8 steals for the Nuggets. Jamal Murray is averaging 22.3 points and 6.5 assists over the last 10 games.
CJ McCollum is averaging 22.1 points and 3.8 assists for the Pelicans. Murphy is averaging 26.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.6 steals over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Nuggets: 7-3, averaging 122.8 points, 45.4 rebounds, 31.3 assists, 7.4 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 52.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.0 points per game.
Pelicans: 4-6, averaging 118.4 points, 44.1 rebounds, 26.4 assists, 9.1 steals and 6.0 blocks per game while shooting 46.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 122.6 points.
INJURIES: Nuggets: Russell Westbrook: out (hamstring), Aaron Gordon: out (calf), DaRon Holmes II: out for season (achilles), Vlatko Cancar: out (knee), Peyton Watson: out (knee).
Pelicans: Brandon Ingram: out (ankle), Daniel Theis: out (thumb), Herbert Jones: out (shoulder), Dejounte Murray: out for season (leg).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
The Associated Press
