Pelicans’ losing line reaches 7 after the third quarter collapse against Denver Nuggets | Pelicans

New Orleans Pelicans’ big lineup worked in half Wednesday night.

But it was the big breakdown in the third quarter that made the pelicans in.

The Pelicans, who played in Mile High City, went to a kilometer high lineup by inserting Karlo Matkovic at first five for the first time in his career.

Matkovic joined Rookie Yves Missi and gave Pelican’s two 6-foot-11 great men.

But Pelican’s twin towers were not enough to overcome the presence of the 6-foot-11 guy they were facing.

The Pelicans fell to Nikola Jokic and Denver Nuggets 144-119 Wednesday in Ball Arena.

The 144 points were the most that fur has allowed this season. The previous high was 139 against Memphis Grizzlies in late January.

The game was tied 68-68 at the break, but Nuggets went on 20-5 races in the third quarter to pull away.

“We came out in the third quarter with a lot of self-inflicted wounds,” said Pelican’s coach Willie Green. “This is a team you have to look after the basketball ball, take quality shot (against). They are elite in transition. The wheels fell off a bit and we just couldn’t maintain what we did in the first half and that was the biggest difference in the game. “

It was the seventh consecutive loss for the Pelicans (12-39). They lost for the second time in three days against the nuggets. Denver won 125-113 on Monday despite Pelicans’ sharp shooting game Trey Murphy going out for a career mound with 41 points.

Murphy scored 25 Wednesday to go with a career-best nine assists who surpassed its earlier height of seven. Fur had six different players to reach double, led by Zion Williamson’s 28.

But it wasn’t almost enough to stop Denver’s duo by Jokic and Michael Porter Jr., who combined for 77 points.

Jokic ended with 38 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds. Jokic entered the game with seven consecutive triple doubles against the pelicans. This strip ended, but it didn’t do anything with Porter scoring 39 points to go with its 12 rebounds.

“We have to be more physical,” Green said of his team’s defense against Porter. “We know he is able to get out of screens and teee up 3s. We allow him to run in the room and we don’t have his hands on him. If you let a 6-10 sniper run around and open, he will hit shots. “

Green talked earlier in the day about his decision to start Matkovic with Missi.

“We can be a little bigger,” Green said. “I think it can help us end some belongings.”

Missi ended with 12 points and Matkovic had 10.

CJ McCollum scored 19 points. Jordan Hawkins scored 15 before being helped to the dressing room with 34.7 seconds left after what seemed to be a left ankle injury.

Green said after the game that radiographs were negative.

“But we will continue to get more test,” Green said.

The Pelicans were without Jose Alvarado missing the game with a non-kovid disease. They will try to get back on the field on Saturday when they play on Sacramento Kings.

“It’s coming to discipline,” Green said. “We know our margin of error is small.”