Nuggets' Peyton Watson scores go-ahead bucket in last minute to hold off Pelicans

Bennett Durando, The Denver Post on Jan 13, 2026

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NEW ORLEANS — As their teammates huddled for a timeout that was likely to be just a formality with 10 seconds remaining, Aaron Gordon found Peyton Watson at the top of the key for a hug.

The recently crowned Western Conference Player of the Week, Watson had delivered for the short-handed Denver Nuggets again. His turnaround 14-footer with 39 seconds left gave them the lead for good Tuesday, and Gordon put the finishing touches on a 122-116 win over the New Orleans Pelicans by getting a stop against Trey Murphy III and cutting for a dunk at the other end.

Watson went for 29 points on 11-of-16 shooting. He added seven rebounds, five assists and two steals. Jamal Murray led all scorers with 35 points. Murphy led New Orleans with 31. The Nuggets (27-13) improved to 5-3 without Nikola Jokic after trailing by as many as 11 early in the second half at Smoothie King Center.

They flew out late to make it to Dallas for a back-to-back on Wednesday.

David Adelman called two timeouts 38 seconds apart late in the fourth quarter with his team trailing 110-106, and it responded with consecutive 3s by Murray and Jalen Pickett to flip the tide. Before Watson’s game-winner, Murray also conjured one of the weirdest clutch buckets of Denver’s season, scooping up a loose ball that had been stripped away from Gordon and connecting on an awkward midrange floater before the shot clock buzzer.

Four players didn’t travel with the team to New Orleans, including Christian Braun, who missed his second consecutive game. He returned from a seven-week absence on Jan. 4 but struggled in his first three games back from an ankle sprain that also involved ligament damage. He was supposed to play Sunday against Milwaukee, but he was ruled out of that game after warming up and underwent a stress test Monday that prompted the Nuggets to keep him back in Denver.

“I think the conversation we had was, (the team doctors) thought there was going to be an increase in (comfort), and there wasn’t,” Adelman said. “And the explosion off his foot, which is a big part of his game because of just how dynamic and athletic Christian is, it just wasn’t there for him. I just think it was better for him, just from a confidence standpoint, physically, to take a step back. And I think that’s how it’s gonna be. Aaron (Gordon) is gonna be the same way. We’re just gonna feel out each day. They take a stress test, and we have to trust that and trust the medical part of this. And just know that the long-term goal of what this team can be wins out.”

Adelman didn’t completely rule out the possibility of Braun rejoining the team on Wednesday in Dallas when asked. A factor in the decision to leave Braun at home was that members of the team’s medical staff were already staying behind to work with Nikola Jokic, Cam Johnson and Jonas Valanciunas on their respective rehabs.

The Nuggets have two days off after Dallas, followed by a home back-to-back against Washington and Charlotte this weekend.

“We’ve had guys back home. We have staff back home. It felt like nobody was on the bus,” Adelman said. “It’s just been a really interesting time. Obviously, we didn’t want some guys to travel on a quick back-to-back before we get back to Denver.”

Adelman played his fifth different starting lineup in as many games, this one reintroducing Murray after a two-game sick leave. Combined with Watson, Gordon and Pickett, it was the most diverse ball-handling lineup the Nuggets have deployed since Jokic’s injury. In the first quarter, either Murray or Pickett scored or assisted on 26 of their 32 points.

Denver’s defense seemed to stay home with Jokic and company. Murphy scored 22 of the Pelicans’ 65 points in the first half as they cashed seven 3s and attempted 15 free throws.

Watson and the Nuggets also managed to exploit a generous whistle from Tony Brothers’ officiating crew, though. Four players attempted five or more foul shots. Watson’s relentless dribble-driving earned him nine trips to the line throughout a night sprinkled with spin moves and tough finishes with both hands. Adelman brought him back into the game while looking for a spark at both ends after New Orleans went on an 8-0 run to take a 100-94 lead.

Eager for the ball, Watson surveyed the lane and kicked out to Pickett for a 3-pointer that ignited a 7-0 Nuggets answer. From then on, the final frame was a slow burn of foul calls and free throws. A total of 63 were attempted by the end.

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