Nikola Jokić posted another masterclass — 32 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists — as the Denver Nuggets defeated the Indiana Pacers 117-100.
Facing adversity without key contributors Jamal Murray (calf) and Aaron Gordon (hamstring), Denver leaned heavily on Jokić’s all-around brilliance.
The Pacers made a push in the third quarter, cutting the lead to 64-61 with 9:13 remaining in that period. But Denver regrouped, and Jokić’s late 29-foot 3-pointer in the fourth helped assert control for good.
Key takeaways:
- Jokić recorded his sixth triple-double of the season.
- Despite posting a season-high eight turnovers, he still led the team across major statistical categories.
- Role players stepped up: Tim Hardaway Jr. added 17 points, while Peyton Watson registered a season-high 16 in Gordon’s absence.
- For Indiana, Aaron Nesmith scored 25 and Andrew Nembhard (returning from injury) posted 22, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Denver’s cohesion.
With this win, the Nuggets underscore their championship-caliber depth and their ability to rely on Jokić’s elite production even when key pieces are missing. For the Pacers, promising performances need to be amplified into sustainable consistency if they’re to compete with the league’s top-tier squads.
