What happened: The Denver Nuggets secured a 116-108 road victory over New Orleans on Saturday despite making only four 3-pointers. Nikola Jokic paced Denver with 26 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds, and three steals. Jamal Murray scored 23 points with nine assists, while Christian Braun contributed 17 points and four steals.
Why it matters: Denver weathered a sharp perimeter disadvantage by generating efficient inside looks and turning defensive stops into transition scoring. Winning while shooting 25% from 3-point range underscores how Jokic and Murray can control game flow through playmaking when shots do not fall from distance.
By the numbers: Denver shot 4-of-16 (25.0%) from 3-point range, while New Orleans finished 13-of-33 (39.4%). Jokic, Murray, and Braun accounted for 66 points, 22 rebounds, 19 assists, and nine combined steals.
What to watch: The Nuggets look to carry defensive momentum into their next road stop while working to restore outside shooting consistency.