NBA: Jose Alvarado's profession recreation leads Pelicans previous Nuggets

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado celebrates throughout a recreation towards the Denver Nuggets. Photograph from the New Orleans Pelicans’ Twitter

Jose Alvarado had profession highs of eight 3-pointers and 38 factors, and the host New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Denver Nuggets 121-106 on Sunday afternoon.

Alvarado doubled his earlier excessive for 3-pointers on 11 makes an attempt because the Pelicans received for the ninth time in 11 video games. He led the best way because the New Orleans bench outscored the Denver bench 62-18.

“Each time (the followers) scream Jose… it retains giving me goosebumps. Town makes us go and we’d like them to win video games.”

-Jose on his connection to New Orleans 🥹 pic.twitter.com/PvGtj3H3C9

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 4, 2022

Zion Williamson added 25 factors, Jonas Valanciunas had 13 and Trey Murphy III and Willy Hernangomez had 12 every.

Nikola Jokic had 32 factors and 16 rebounds, Aaron Gordon scored 19 factors, Jamal Murray had 18 and Bruce Brown 13 for the Nuggets, who misplaced their second straight after a four-game profitable streak.

Jokic, who led all scorers with 21 first-half factors, scored the primary seven factors of the third quarter to provide Denver a 67-59 lead.

Valanciunas stopped the run with a three-point play, however moments later he went to the bench after committing his fifth foul whereas making an attempt to decelerate Jokic.

Williamson had two baskets and a layup by Dyson Daniels gave New Orleans a one-point lead.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope put the Nuggets again on high briefly earlier than Murphy scored six factors to assist the Pelicans open an 82-75 lead.

They prolonged the result in 10 earlier than Denver trimmed it to 87-81 on the finish of the third quarter.

Alvarado made a 3-pointer and 4 free throws as New Orleans elevated the result in 96-83 and stayed in management the remainder of the best way.

Historical past for Jose Alvarado’s 38-point evening:

· Most factors by any participant coming off the bench within the NBA this season

· Most factors scored by a #Pelicans reserve in franchise historical past

· Most factors by an undrafted participant in franchise historical past pic.twitter.com/TK1orzPdnN

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 4, 2022

Jokic scored seven straight Nuggets factors as they opened a 30-16 lead, however Alvarado got here off the bench to spark the Pelicans.

He made two 3-pointers and Williamson added a three-point play as New Orleans closed inside 31-27 on the finish of the primary quarter.

Devonte’ Graham hit a 3-pointer and Alvarado made back-to-back 3-pointers because the Pelicans took a 36-34 lead early within the second.

They led by as many as 4 factors, Denver led by as many as six and the rating was tied twice earlier than Murray’s layup gave the Nuggets a 60-59 halftime lead.