New Orleans visits Denver after Murphy's 40-point game

New Orleans Pelicans (12-37, 14th in the Western Conference) vs. Denver Nuggets (30-19, fourth in the Western Conference)

Denver; Monday, 9 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: New Orleans takes on the Denver Nuggets after Trey Murphy III scored 40 points in the Pelicans' 118-116 loss to the Boston Celtics.

The Nuggets are 17-12 against Western Conference opponents. Denver is the league leader with 31.1 assists per game led by Nikola Jokic averaging 10.1.

The Pelicans are 6-21 in conference matchups. New Orleans ranks sixth in the NBA scoring 16.9 fast break points per game. Murphy leads the Pelicans averaging 4.5.

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 2.1 percentage points lower than the Nuggets have given up to their opponents (46.7%).

TOP PERFORMERS: Jokic is scoring 29.6 points per game with 12.8 rebounds and 10.1 assists for the Nuggets. Jamal Murray is averaging 22.5 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 50.0% over the past 10 games.

CJ McCollum is averaging 21.9 points and 3.8 assists for the Pelicans. Murphy is averaging 25.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Nuggets: 6-4, averaging 121.1 points, 44.4 rebounds, 30.7 assists, 7.1 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 53.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.5 points per game.

Pelicans: 4-6, averaging 119.0 points, 44.2 rebounds, 26.1 assists, 9.4 steals and 5.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 122.1 points.

INJURIES: Nuggets: Russell Westbrook: day to day (hamstring), DaRon Holmes II: out for season (achilles), Vlatko Cancar: out (knee), Peyton Watson: day to day (knee).

Pelicans: Brandon Ingram: out (ankle), Zion Williamson: day to day (illness), Daniel Theis: day to day (thumb), Herbert Jones: out (shoulder), Dejounte Murray: out for season (leg), Jordan Hawkins: day to day (illness).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.