Pelicans lose to Nuggets, 107-102: Davis’ 50 points not enough in season debut

Anthony Davis came out with authority in the season opener, scoring 50 points in his first regular season game since sitting out the rest of the 2015-16 season on March 20 due to injury.

Though Davis scored nearly half of the team’s total points tonight, it wasn’t enough and the Pelicans fell to the Denver Nuggets in its season opener 107-102 at the Smoothie King Center.

Davis exploded last season against the Detroit Pistons for 59 points, but had only cracked 40 points once last season. Davis’ point total blew away the Pelicans record for most points scored in a home opener and accounted for the second highest point total in his career.

The Brow finished the game with 50 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks, coming within just 4 points of tying Michael Jordan for the most points in opening night history.

Davis started the game off to a hot start, hitting five of his first eight shots from the field in the first quarter.

Davis continued his hot streak throughout the first half, scoring 20 of the Pelicans first 37 points.

No other Pelican played with much aggression in the first half, as no one scored more than five points, or took more than six shots. Davis ended up with 28 points of the 48 total halftime points.

Davis continued his scoring onslaught in the second half putting up 22 points and finished the game converting 16 of 17 free throws.

Rookie guard Buddy Hield’s debut started shaky, missing five of his first six shots. He finished with 2 points in 16 minutes off the bench.

Lance Stephenson brought some pep in the second half, pushing the pace on breaks and gave some much needed energy off the bench. He finished with 8 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and this highlight play.

The Tim Frazier and E’Twaun Moore starting combo also had a solid debut, contributing for 25 points off 50 percent shooting, 15 assists. The duo coughed up only 3 turnovers.

The Nuggets were led by Jusuf Nurkic (23 points), and Denver’s big men out-muscled New Orleans the whole night, out-rebounding the Pelicans 58-34.

The Pelicans next play the Golden State Warriors in the Blender Friday.