Hayes, Jones come up huge for Pelicans in win at Nuggets

Perhaps the light has come on for Jaxson Hayes.

The third-year player has been a bright spot of late.

He light never shined brighter than it did Friday night.

At Mile High altitude, Hayes raised his game to the highest level ever as a Pelican.

Getting a start at the power forward spot, Hayes scored 22 points, going a perfect 9-of-9 from the field and a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line and the Saints broke open a tie game entering the fourth quarter in an important 113-105 win over the Nuggets in Denver. The 22 points were one short of matching a career best for Hayes.

The game was still tied at 97-97 with 4:46 to play in the game and the Pelicans closed the game on a 16-8 run for the win.

Rookie Herb Jones was also brilliant, scoring 25 points, including 17 in the decisive fourth quarter while Brandon Ingram had 23 points and 12 assists. Jonas Valanciunas finished with 18 points and seven rebounds and Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 10 points off the bench. The 25 points were one short of matching a career best for Jones.

New Orleans blistered the nets to the tune of 56 percent shooting from the field and 91.3 percent shooting from the free throw line. The Pelicans won the battle of the boards 38-31. New Orleans crushed Denver 58-32 in points in the paint.

Reigning Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic finished with 25 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists for the Nuggets.

With the win, the Pelicans pulled within a game of the 10th and final play-in spot.

If New Orleans makes the playoffs, the is one game that they will be able to point to down the road.

The road trip continues at Houston Sunday night as the Pelicans meet the lowly Rockets twice in three nights, including a game at New Orleans next Tuesday.