Pelicans 99, Nuggets 92: Tyreke Evans had 22 points, seven rebounds and seven assists and Eric Gordon scored 18 points as visiting New Orleans knocked off sinking Denver.

Omer Asik collected 16 rebounds for the Pelicans, who remain without injured All-Star Anthony Davis (shoulder). Dante Cunningham had 14 points and seven rebounds as New Orleans set a season best with its fifth straight victory and remains a half-game behind eighth-place Oklahoma City in the Western Conference playoff race.

Danilo Gallinari scored 21 points and Randy Foye made five 3-pointers while scoring 19 points for the Nuggets, who have lost six straight and 19 of their last 21 games. Will Barton had 16 points and a season-high 10 rebounds off the bench, Wilson Chandler contributed 14 points and eight rebounds and Ty Lawson notched 11 assists.

Cunningham’s jumper gave the Pelicans an 89-84 lead with 2:59 remaining and the advantage reached seven when Gordon split two free throws with 1:21 to play. Jimmer Fredette knocked down two free throws to make it 94-86 and Evans hit four consecutive free throws in the final 38.3 seconds.

Both teams struggled offensively in the first half as the game was knotted at 37. The Pelicans opened up a six-point lead on Evans’ layup with 3:47 left in the third quarter before Denver rallied and tied the score at 65 on Gallinari’s buzzer-beating half-court shot.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Asik is averaging 12.5 rebounds in the four games Davis has missed. … Nuggets F Darrell Arthur (calf) sat out his second straight game. … The Pelicans are 6-5 without Davis this season.