NBA Game Summary - New Orleans at Denver

Denver, CO (SportsNetwork.com) - Kenneth Faried had 19 points and eight rebounds as the Denver Nuggets routed the New Orleans Pelicans 117-97 on Friday night.

Arron Afflolo netted 19 points, while Wilson Chandler added 18 points and five boards for the Nuggets, who have won three straight games on the heels of a 2-7 start.

"We played hard. I think we're turning it around right now," Denver center JaVale McGee said.

Anthony Davis tallied 18 points and nine rebounds for New Orleans, which had won five of its last seven games coming in.

"We have an identity. When we stray away from that, you get this result," Pelicans coach Monty Williams said.

Tyreke Evans, Davis and Alexis Ajinca each netted four quick points as the Pelicans raced out to a 14-2 start, but Denver responded with a 16-4 surge itself as Chandler's layup tied the game at 18-18 late in the opening frame.

The Nuggets later went on a 13-2 swing that bled into the second.

Faried's layup at the first quarter horn gave the hosts a 31-26 advantage heading into the second. McGee's layup finished off the flurry and staked the Nuggets to a 37-26 cushion.

Denver took a 59-49 cushion into the break.

New Orleans never cut the deficit below eight in the third and Denver headed into the fourth with a 86-73 margin. The Nuggets led by as many as 25 in the final frame.