Pelicans blow late lead, lose to Nuggets in overtime

The opportunity was there.

New Orleans was facing a struggling Denver team that had lost eight of its last 10 games.

The Pelicans got Josh Hart back, after he had missed three games with a knee injury.

New Orleans was playing well and was poised to take a needed win, up by five points with 1:29 to play in the game.

Then, the roof caved in.

After missing a potential game-winner at the buzzer on a shot that went down and came out, reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic pumped in 11 points in overtime to pace the Nuggets to a 120-114 win over the Pelicans at Smoothie King Center.

Jokic, who made his first eight shots of the game, finished with 39 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists for the 51st triple-double of his illustrious career, already eighth all-time in league history.

Jokic was unstoppable, going 17-of-23 from the field.

New Orleans did not run a second defender at him often, particularly down the stretch and in overtime and the Pelicans paid the price for it.

Jonas Valanciunas competed hard and played well with 27 points and 11 rebounds but no one can really handle Jokic, the ultimate point center, by himself.

New Orleans killed itself with 25 turnovers, resulting in 31 points for the Nuggets which offset a huge edge for the Pelicans on the boards where the Pelicans drubbed Denver 46-33.

The Pelicans lost despite shooting 52.5 percent from the field and winning points in the paint by a 66-60 margin, winning fast break points by a 14-7 margin.

Rookie Herbert Jones was outstanding for New Orleans with 19 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Brandon Ingram scored 16 points and Nickeil Alexander-Walker came off the bench to score 15 points.

In his return, Hart had 12 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.

With the worst record in the Western Conference at 7-20, the Pelicans return to action Friday against Detroit, the team with the worst record in the NBA at 4-20 in a game that the Pelicans must find a way to win.

New Orleans had every chance to win Wednesday night. Typically, perhaps predictably, they did not get it done when it mattered most.