Jamal Murray Scores 42 as Nuggets Erase 23-Point Deficit in OT Thriller

Jamal Murray delivered one of the biggest performances of the young NBA season Saturday night, scoring 42 points as the Denver Nuggets erased a 23-point deficit and rallied past the New Orleans Pelicans 141-135 in overtime. Murray made eight 3-pointers and added six assists, while Nikola Jokic finished with 35 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists for the 199th regular-season triple-double of his career.

Denver trailed 108-89 entering the fourth quarter before outscoring New Orleans 37-18 to force overtime. Murray helped complete the comeback at the free-throw line late in regulation, while rookie Trevon Brazile provided a major spark off the bench. Brazile finished with 17 points and nine rebounds, scored seven points in overtime and buried a corner 3-pointer with 1:25 remaining that pushed Denver ahead 133-129.

The comeback mattered beyond one home-opening win. Denver was short-handed without Cameron Johnson, Alpha Diallo, Julian Strawther and Spencer Jones, yet still found enough offense to overcome a Pelicans team that shot 65.9 percent in the first half. Murray supplied the scoring explosion, Jokic moved within 10 triple-doubles of Russell Westbrook’s all-time regular-season record, and Brazile showed he may already be ready for meaningful minutes. For Denver, a 23-point hole turned into an early-season reminder of how difficult this team can be to finish off.