Anthony Davis 4th player to score 50 points in NBA season opener

Former University of Kentucky star Anthony Davis put up monster numbers in his season opener, but the New Orleans Pelicans lost 107-102 at home to the Denver Nuggets.

Davis scored 50 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to go with a career-high seven steals, five assists and four blocks.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Davis was the fourth player in NBA history to score 50 or more points in a season opener. Only Michael Jordan, Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain had done so before him.

Denver Coach Mike Malone decided the Nuggets should not in fact do whatever it takes to stop Anthony Davis.

“When you play against a great player, you have a problem you need to answer: Are you going to shut him down and create problems elsewhere, or are you going to let him get his and hope nobody else goes off?,” Malone said.

However, Davis’ prolific play helped New Orleans trim a deficit as large as 14 late in the second quarter down to two points in the waning minutes.

“We gave them too many easy looks in the beginning of the game,” Davis said. “We gave ourselves a chance. We’ve just got to play like we played in the third and fourth quarter in the beginning of the game.”

Davis didn’t get much help offensively. The rest of the Pelicans combined to shoot 21 of 58.

Tim Frazier scored 15 for the Pelicans. E’Twaun Moore added 10 points, but missed a three-point attempt that could have tied it with 24 seconds left.

Davis didn’t fault his teammates for the loss, saying their shot selection was decent but that they missed shots they often make. He was more inclined to criticize himself for a few missed shots from close range and his late turnover.

“I’m going to have to — probably not 50 every night — but try to get somewhere along those lines every game to give ourselves a chance,” Davis said.

Murray’s debut

Nuggets rookie Jamal Murray, another of 25 former UK players in the league, had one point, four rebounds, one assist and one turnover in his debut. He was 0-for-2 from field.

“For me, tonight’s focus isn’t Jamal Murray’s debut. That’s the least of my worries,” Malone said. “My worry is trying to get a damn win.”

This story was originally published October 26, 2016 at 11:19 PM with the headline "Anthony Davis 4th player to score 50 points in NBA season opener."