Nikola Jokic posted 32 points, 14 rebounds, and 14 assists for his sixth triple-double in nine games, leading the Denver Nuggets to a 117-100 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday at Ball Arena.
Denver, playing without Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon due to injuries, relied on Jalen Pickett and Peyton Watson to fill in, with Watson scoring a season-high 16 points. The win completed a four-game homestand sweep for the Nuggets.
The Pacers, who have lost eight of nine games this season, got 25 points from Aaron Nesmith and 22 from Andrew Nembhard in their return from injury. Monte Morris scored one point in 15 minutes off the bench.
Indiana briefly cut Denver’s lead to 64-61 early in the third quarter, aided by a technical foul on Gordon while he sat on the bench. Jokic responded with a deep three-pointer midway through the fourth, pushing the lead to 109-88.
Denver held the Pacers without their usual offensive rhythm, limiting them to 22 points in the opening quarter. Johnson added 12 points, Christian Braun contributed eight, and Hunter Tyson, Jonas Valanciunas, and Tim Hardaway Jr. provided additional scoring off the bench.
The Nuggets improved to 7-2, while the Pacers fell to 1-8. Denver heads to Sacramento on Tuesday, and Indiana visits Golden State on Sunday.
