DENVER -- — Michael Porter Jr. tied a career high with 39 points on the eve of the trade deadline, Nikola Jokic added 38 and the Denver Nuggets beat the struggling New Orleans Pelicans 144-119 on Wednesday night for their fourth straight win.

Porter finished 16 of 23 from the field, including five 3-pointers, and had 12 rebounds. His name has been mentioned in trade speculation ahead of Thursday’s deadline, but coach Michael Malone recently dismissed the notion.

Jokic added 10 assists and eight rebounds for the short-handed Nuggets, who were missing Russell Westbrook (hamstring) and Peyton Watson (knee). Aaron Gordon matched a career best with 12 assists.

Denver and New Orleans met for the second time in three nights. The Nuggets won 125-113 on Monday.

Zion Williamson finished with 28 points for the Pelicans, who lost their seventh straight game.

Takeaways

Pelicans: Trey Murphy III had 25 points after going for 40 and 41 in his previous two games.

Nuggets: The Nuggets had 40 assists, 37 fast-break points and 74 points in the paint. They entered the game leading the league in all three categories. ... Christian Braun had 23 points. ... Porter also had 39 points on April 24, 2021, against Houston.

Key Moment

Tied at 72 in the third quarter, Porter hit a running layup to give the Nuggets the lead for good. It was part of a 41-23 run to close out the quarter.

Key Stat

Jokic attempted a career-high 13 shots from 3-point range and made five.

Up Next

The Nuggets host Orlando on Thursday, while the Pelicans are at Sacramento on Saturday.

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Play By Play

Recent plays and game events

TIME	PLAY
12:00	Yves Missi vs. Nikola Jokic (Aaron Gordon gains possession)	0	0
11:43	Aaron Gordon misses alley oop layup	0	0
11:42	Zion Williamson defensive rebound	0	0
11:33	CJ McCollum misses 25-foot three point step back jumpshot	0	0
11:30	Christian Braun defensive rebound	0	0
11:19	Christian Braun misses 26-foot three point jumper	0	0
11:16	Yves Missi defensive rebound	0	0
11:08	Zion Williamson makes 9-foot two point shot	0	2
10:47	Jamal Murray makes 6-foot two point shot	2	2
10:25	Yves Missi makes 5-foot two point shot (Zion Williamson assists)	2	4
10:02	Michael Porter Jr. makes 27-foot three point jumper (Nikola Jokic assists)	5	4
9:46	Zion Williamson misses driving layup	5	4
9:44	Yves Missi offensive rebound	5	4
9:44	Yves Missi makes 3-foot dunk	5	6
9:27	Aaron Gordon misses driving layup	5	6
9:26	Michael Porter Jr. offensive rebound	5	6
9:25	Michael Porter Jr. makes 3-foot dunk	7	6
9:14	Yves Missi misses 10-foot two point shot	7	6
9:12	Jamal Murray defensive rebound	7	6
9:03	Michael Porter Jr. misses 26-foot three point jumper	7	6
9:00	Nikola Jokic offensive rebound	7	6
8:56	Aaron Gordon misses 22-foot three point jumper	7	6
8:54	Karlo Matkovic defensive rebound	7	6
8:45	Aaron Gordon personal foul	7	6
8:38	CJ McCollum makes 11-foot two point shot (Trey Murphy III assists)	7	8
8:24	Michael Porter Jr. makes 26-foot three point jumper (Jamal Murray assists)	10	8
8:08	Yves Missi makes 4-foot layup (Trey Murphy III assists)	10	10
7:54	Nikola Jokic misses 26-foot three point jumper	10	10
7:52	Zion Williamson defensive rebound	10	10
7:45	Zion Williamson misses 11-foot two point shot	10	10
7:43	Nikola Jokic defensive rebound	10	10
7:39	Trey Murphy III shooting foul	10	10
7:39	Christian Braun makes free throw 1 of 2	11	10
7:39	Jordan Hawkins enters the game for Zion Williamson	11	10
7:39	Christian Braun makes free throw 2 of 2	12	10
7:31	Jordan Hawkins misses 23-foot three point jumper	12	10
7:28	Nikola Jokic defensive rebound	12	10
7:17	Karlo Matkovic blocks Nikola Jokic 's 7-foot layup	12	10
7:14	Karlo Matkovic defensive rebound	12	10
7:10	Jordan Hawkins makes 7-foot dunk (Trey Murphy III assists)	12	12
6:52	Christian Braun misses 24-foot three point jumper	12	12
6:49	Michael Porter Jr. offensive rebound	12	12
6:47	Karlo Matkovic shooting foul	12	12
6:47	Nuggets Full timeout	12	12
6:47	Javonte Green enters the game for Karlo Matkovic	12	12
6:47	Michael Porter Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2	13	12
6:47	Michael Porter Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2	14	12
6:27	Jordan Hawkins makes driving layup (Trey Murphy III assists)	14	14
6:04	Aaron Gordon misses 26-foot three point jumper	14	14
6:02	Trey Murphy III defensive rebound	14	14
5:55	Trey Murphy III misses driving layup	14	14
5:53	Aaron Gordon defensive rebound	14	14
5:44	Nikola Jokic makes 7-foot two point shot (Michael Porter Jr. assists)	16	14
5:34	Yves Missi makes driving layup (Trey Murphy III assists)	16	16
5:17	Christian Braun makes 3-foot layup (Michael Porter Jr. assists)	18	16
4:56	Trey Murphy III misses 8-foot pullup jump shot	18	16
4:54	Trey Murphy III offensive rebound	18	16
4:53	Trey Murphy III makes tip shot	18	18
4:45	Michael Porter Jr. makes 29-foot three pointer	21	18
4:31	Zeke Nnaji enters the game for Christian Braun	21	18
4:31	Julian Strawther enters the game for Aaron Gordon	21	18
4:24	Zeke Nnaji blocks Trey Murphy III 's 21-foot step back jumpshot	21	18
4:23	Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound	21	18
4:21	Michael Porter Jr. bad pass (Jordan Hawkins steals)	21	18
4:14	Jordan Hawkins makes 26-foot three point shot (Trey Murphy III assists)	21	21
3:49	Nikola Jokic misses layup	21	21
3:48	Nikola Jokic offensive rebound	21	21
3:48	Nikola Jokic makes tip shot	23	21
3:30	Zeke Nnaji shooting foul	23	21
3:30	CJ McCollum makes free throw 1 of 2	23	22
3:30	Karlo Matkovic enters the game for Yves Missi	23	22
3:30	Antonio Reeves enters the game for Trey Murphy III	23	22
3:30	CJ McCollum makes free throw 2 of 2	23	23
3:17	Zeke Nnaji misses 23-foot three point jumper	23	23
3:15	Karlo Matkovic defensive rebound	23	23
3:08	Nikola Jokic blocks CJ McCollum 's 11-foot driving layup	23	23
3:06	Pelicans offensive team rebound	23	23
3:06	Jalen Pickett enters the game for Jamal Murray	23	23
2:59	Jordan Hawkins misses 26-foot three point step back jumpshot	23	23
2:56	Zeke Nnaji defensive rebound	23	23
2:50	Nikola Jokic misses 23-foot two point shot	23	23
2:48	Jordan Hawkins defensive rebound	23	23
2:42	CJ McCollum makes 28-foot running pullup jump shot (Jordan Hawkins assists)	23	26
2:41	Nuggets Full timeout	23	26
2:41	Christian Braun enters the game for Michael Porter Jr.	23	26
2:29	Nikola Jokic makes 27-foot three point jumper (Julian Strawther assists)	26	26
2:16	CJ McCollum bad pass (Jalen Pickett steals)	26	26
2:06	Karlo Matkovic blocks Julian Strawther 's 8-foot two point shot	26	26
2:03	Zeke Nnaji offensive rebound	26	26
1:57	Julian Strawther makes 23-foot three point jumper (Nikola Jokic assists)	29	26
1:38	Jordan Hawkins misses 17-foot step back jumpshot	29	26
1:36	Christian Braun defensive rebound	29	26
1:30	Nikola Jokic makes 26-foot three point shot (Christian Braun assists)	32	26
1:26	Pelicans Full timeout	32	26
1:26	Zion Williamson enters the game for CJ McCollum	32	26
1:15	Jordan Hawkins misses 12-foot pullup jump shot	32	26
1:13	Zion Williamson offensive rebound	32	26
1:00	Javonte Green makes 27-foot three point jumper (Karlo Matkovic assists)	32	29
38.1	Nikola Jokic makes 6-foot two point shot	34	29
31.0	Zion Williamson makes 10-foot two point shot	34	31
31.0	Zeke Nnaji shooting foul	34	31
31.0	Zion Williamson misses free throw 1 of 1	34	31
30.0	Zeke Nnaji defensive rebound	34	31
13.1	Jalen Pickett makes 20-foot step back jumpshot (Nikola Jokic assists)	36	31
2.2	Zeke Nnaji shooting foul	36	31
2.2	Zion Williamson makes free throw 1 of 2	36	32
2.2	Aaron Gordon enters the game for Zeke Nnaji	36	32
2.2	Jamal Cain enters the game for Jordan Hawkins	36	32
2.2	Zion Williamson makes free throw 2 of 2	36	33
2.2	Nikola Jokic out of bounds bad pass turnover	36	33
2.2	Trey Murphy III enters the game for Antonio Reeves	36	33
2.2	Jordan Hawkins enters the game for Jamal Cain	36	33
1.0	Julian Strawther shooting foul	36	33
1.0	Jordan Hawkins makes free throw 1 of 3	36	34
1.0	Jordan Hawkins makes free throw 2 of 3	36	35
1.0	Jordan Hawkins makes free throw 3 of 3	36	36
0.1	Nikola Jokic misses 82-foot three point jumper	36	36
0.0	Nuggets offensive team rebound	36	36
0.0	End of the 1st Quarter	36	36

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Game Information

Time, Location & Referees

Venue

Ball Arena

Denver, CO

Date & Time

2:00 AM, February 6, 2025

Coverage

Altitude Sports, Altitude Sports, GCSEN

Attendance

19,526

Referees

Jason Goldenberg, Marc Davis, Jonathan Sterling

2025-26 Southwest Standings

TEAM	W	L	PCT	STRK
San Antonio	43	16	.729	W11
Houston	37	22	.627	L1
Memphis	22	36	.379	W1
Dallas	21	38	.356	L2
New Orleans	19	42	.311	W4

2025-26 Northwest Standings

TEAM	W	L	PCT	STRK
Oklahoma City	46	15	.754	W1
Denver	37	23	.617	L1
Minnesota	37	23	.617	W2
Portland	29	32	.475	L1
Utah	18	42	.300	L5

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Porter ties career high with 39 points, Jokic adds 38 as Nuggets beat struggling Pelicans 144-119

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