Davis leads Pelicans past Nuggets, 111-107 in OT
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Anthony Davis tied his career high with 32 points, grabbed 17 rebounds and blocked six shots, and the New Orleans Pelicans erased a 16-point deficit to capture their third straight victory, 111-107 over the Denver Nuggets in overtime Sunday night.
Tyreke Evans had 20 points and Anthony Morrow added 14, including a 15-foot pullup in the lane that tied the game at 94 with 1 second left in regulation.
Davis' free throws gave New Orleans the lead for good at 106-104, and his block of Ty Lawson's driving layup prevented Denver from tying it with 1:14 left in overtime.
Davis became the first player in franchise history -- going back to the club's founding as the Charlotte Hornets in 1988 -- to have as many points, rebounds and blocks in one game.
Kenneth Faried had 22 points and 10 rebounds for Denver.
Aaron Brooks scored 12 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter, nearly rescuing Denver from its collapse.
After being up by as many as 13 points early in the second half, Denver had fallen behind by as many as seven in the fourth quarter before Brooks scored six straight on three free throws and a transition 3-pointer to put the Nuggets back in front. Later, his clutch, weaving drive around Davis for a scoop off the glass put Denver in front 94-90 with 1:20 left. But Brian Roberts' free throws, followed by Morrow's clutch jumper, sent the game to overtime.
There were nine lead changes in the overtime thriller between two teams well out of playoff contention and playing for pride.
Davis' deep offensive rebound and assist on Morrow's 3 made it 100-98, and Davis exuberantly held three fingers in the air as the ball went down, only to see Lawson convert a quick three-point play on a driving layup as he was fouled to give Denver the lead right back.
Roberts followed with a jumper for New Orleans, then Wilson Chandler nailed a 3 to put the Nuggets back up by two. Evans' layup tied it for the eighth and final time at 104, and the Pelicans gradually wrapped up the win from there.
Lawson finished with 15 points, Chandler with 14 and JJ Hickson 12 for the Nuggets, who fell despite outshooting New Orleans 47.1 percent (40 of 85) to 45.6 percent (41 of 90).
Austin Rivers scored 13 and Eric Gordon 10 for the Pelicans.
Denver led by 56-43 on Timofey Mozgov's tip-in in the first minute of the second half, but Gordon's 3 started an 8-0 run that included Davis' three-point play on a 16-foot jumper as he was fouled.
New Orleans completed the comeback on another 16-footer by Davis that tied it at 69 with 1:31 left in the quarter.
Rivers hit a floater and a 3 as New Orleans then scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter.
Denver, which shot 60 percent (21 of 35) in the first half, and was up 11-2 on Randy Foye's 3 less than 4 minutes into the game. The lead grew to 15 in the first quarter when Faried's free throws made it 23-8.
Faried had 13 points in the first half, and gave the Nuggets their largest lead on a layup that made it 46-30 with 4:54 left in the second quarter.
NOTES: The Nuggets resume their five-game road trip Monday night in Charlotte, followed by games Wednesday in Orlando, Friday in Miami and Saturday in Atlanta. ... Davis has surpassed 20 points and 10 rebounds in a game 22 times this season, and he has 30 double-doubles.