114-112. Jokic and Campazzo keep Nuggets winners; Willy, 7 points

Denver (USA), Apr 28 (EFE) .- Serbian center Nikola Jokic scored 32 points and blocked forward Zion Williamson with 2.2 seconds remaining in regulation time and the Denver Nuggets won 114- 112 to the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Nuggets (36-26) won their third consecutive game, despite the loss of the injured starting point guard, Canadian Jamal Murray, who is being successfully replaced by Argentine Facundo Campazzo.

The Denver team is just a game behind the Los Angeles Clippers (43-21), who have lost two consecutive games, in the fight for third place in the Western Conference.

The Nuggets held a nine-point lead with 52.8 seconds to go, but suddenly began to lose balls and had to endure a fierce comeback attempt by the Pelicans, who reduced the gap to 114-112 with 9.9 seconds remaining.

Williamson jumped with the aim of making a dunk, but the Serbian took the ball from him.

Power forward Michael Porter Jr. added 28 points and Argentine guard rookie Facundo Campazzo scored three crucial 3-pointers down the stretch of the game and finished with 19 points, the best mark since entering the NBA.

In addition, Campazzo also finished leader in the direction of the game by distributing 10 assists that left him with a double-double in the 36 minutes he played.

The former Real Madrid player made 6 of 9 shots from the field, including 3 of 6 3-point attempts, and was 4-4 from the personnel line.

Campazzo maintained prominence in the paint with six rebounds, all defensive, recovered two balls, lost four, put a block and committed two personal fouls.

Power forward Aaron Gordon contributed 10 points and singled out Williamson in a game in which Denver was never at a disadvantage.

While power forward Brandon Ingram finished as the Pelicans leading scorer with 27 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Williamson, who in the end could not be a winning factor for the Pelicans, reached 21 points, and point guard Lonzo Ball finished with a triple-double of 16 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists, four recoveries, lost another four and put two plugs.

The Spanish center Willy Hernangómez, who played 24 minutes as a reserve for the Pelicans, made a contribution of seven points, after scoring 3 of 5 shots from the field and 1-2 from the personnel line.

The former Real Madrid player grabbed five rebounds, including three defenders, and committed two personal fouls.

However, the Pelicans (27-35) remain in eleventh place in the Western Conference which leaves them out of play-in competition for the playoffs.

(c) EFE Agency

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