Murray scores 31 as Nuggets beat Pelicans 146-114

DENVER (AP) – Jamal Murray scored 31 points and the Denver Nuggets had the NBA’s highest-scoring game of the season in a 146-114 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.

Nikola Jokic added 13 points and 11 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season as the Nuggets improved to 7-2 at the Pepsi Center. Gary Harris had 22 points in his return after a two-game absence with right shoulder soreness.

Anthony Davis had 17 points and five rebounds for New Orleans before he left the game with a concussion in the opening minute of the third quarter.

Davis was inadvertently hit in the face by Jokic’s head as the Nuggets center was backing him down with the ball.

The Pelicans trailed by as many as 27 points in the opening quarter but pulled within 66-58 on Davis’ jumper seconds before he went down with the injury.

The Nuggets took advantage of the Pelicans without their All-Star big man and outscored them 40-22 the rest of the way in the third. Emmanuel Mudiay’s 3-pointer before the buzzer made it 106-80.

Denver surpassed the 142 points Houston scored against Phoenix just one night earlier for the highest total in the league this season.

Denver hit nine consecutive shots to jump out to a 25-4 lead. Three of its starters were in double figures by the end of the quarter: Murray had 11 points while Harris and Paul Millsap each had 10.

The Pelicans answered, outscoring Denver 48-29 in the final 14:19 of the half. Rajon Rondo raced the length of the court for a layup at the buzzer to pull New Orleans within eight.

TIP-INS

Pelicans: C DeMarcus Cousins had 14 points, while Rondo and G Jrue Holiday each had 13. E’Twaun Moore had 16 off the bench. . Rondo made his second consecutive start of the season after returning from surgery to repair a core muscle injury earlier in the week. . G Tony Allen missed his fourth straight game with soreness in his left knee.

Nuggets: C Mason Plumlee (core strain) was cleared to play after undergoing an MRI earlier in the day. . Millsap had 20 points and Mudiay had 19. . Denver Broncos linebackers Von Miller and Brandon Marshall sat courtside.

UP NEXT

Pelicans: Host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday.

Nuggets: Begin a three-game road trip Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Denver Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler, left, drives past New Orleans Pelicans center DeMarcus Cousins for a shot in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Nov. 17, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis is helped off the court after getting hit in the head by Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Nov. 17, 2017, in Denver. Davis left the game. The Nuggets won 146-114. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis holds his forehead after getting hit by Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Nov. 17, 2017, in Denver. Davis left the game. The Nuggets won 146-114. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets guard Gary Harris smiles as he gestures to the bench after hitting a basket against the New Orleans Pelicans in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Nov. 17, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)