New Orleans @ Denver preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 31, 2019 ) Denver 107, New Orleans 122

The Denver Nuggets own the longest active winning streak in the NBA and they look to extend it to eight when they host the New Orleans Pelicans on the Christmas night stage. Denver routed the Los Angeles Lakers 128-104 on Sunday but needed a game-winning shot from point guard Jamal Murray to escape with a 113-111 win over the Phoenix Suns on Monday.

The Nuggets were sloppy by committing 21 turnovers against Phoenix but shot 55.1 percent from the field and made key plays down the stretch to avoid the setback. "We had poise down the stretch to handle their pressure," Denver coach Michael Malone said afterward. "This wasn't our best game, but when you don't play your best on the road, you have to find ways (to win). That's what I'm proud about." New Orleans has followed up a 13-game losing streak by winning two of its last three games, all on the road, including Monday's impressive 102-94 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. The Pelicans were 15-of-35 from 3-point range in the contest while holding Portland to 4-of-29.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, FS New Orleans, Altitude (Denver)

ABOUT THE PELICANS (8-23): New Orleans drew a Christmas Day game primarily as a showcase for No. 1 overall draft pick Zion Williamson but the forward from Duke still hasn't played this season after undergoing knee surgery two months ago. There isn't a specific target date for Williamson's debut but the intensity of his workouts have picked up and he figures to be closing in on being cleared. "We're taking it slow and he's working his butt off to get back out on the court," Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry told reporters. "When the time comes, we'll put him out there."

ABOUT THE NUGGETS (21-8): Murray scored 28 points on 12-of-19 shooting - including 4-of-8 from 3-point range- in the win over Phoenix, an effort topped by his decisive shot with 3.2 seconds left. "I was just in a zone, not thinking about anything really," Murray said afterward. "Just in a zone. Everybody was locked in." Center Nikola Jokic was certainly on his game with 22 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for his 34th career triple-double, passing legendary Boston Celtics point guard Bob Cousy to move into 10th place on the all-time list.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. C Jahlil Okafor scored a season-high 26 points and SF Brandon Ingram added 25 as the Pelicans notched a 122-107 home win over the Nuggets on Oct. 31.

2. Denver swingman Will Barton scored 13 points against Phoenix and has reached double digits in seven of the past eight games.

3. New Orleans C Derrick Favors recorded 12 points and 13 rebounds against Portland for his fifth double-double of the season.

PREDICTION: Nuggets 114, Pelicans 105