The Denver Nuggets started a four game road trip tonight against the Indiana Pacers. Indiana was at a disadvantage playing the second night of a back to back and the Nuggets made the most of it. Nikola Jokic set a career high in assists while Aaron Gordon led the team in scoring on their way to a victory. Myles Turner and Tyrese Haliburton put in big nights for the Pacers but it wasn’t enough to overcome Jokic’s career night. Denver got in front early and kept Indiana at an arm’s distance throughout the game until the Pacers finally relented. The Nuggets start the road trip 1-0 with a 125-116 victory

They started the game hitting their jumpers but weren’t crisp with a couple fouls and a turnover. Gordon got hot quickly and after knocking down a couple jumpers to spark a run, Denver built a lead. AG ended up scoring ten of Denver’s first fifteen points. He continued to put in good minutes and overpowered Pascal Siakam with regularity but ended up getting into foul trouble just after the five minute mark. Denver’s offense stalled out and the Pacers took advantage. They got an 8-0 run to pull within three. Jokic started distributing with Denver’s bench checking in and they found success through that. They built a small lead and ended the first up 36-28.

Both teams were a little tighter on defense to start the second quarter but Jamal Murray was hitting shots. Unfortunately, he was the next Nugget to get into foul trouble when he picked up his third at the nine and a half minute mark. Denver’s offense struggled after Murray checked out but their defense didn’t let Indiana get too close. Eventually the Pacers started knocking down baskets which prompted Michael Malone to call a timeout and get Nikola back in the game. Jalen Pickett also checked in with Murray in foul trouble and put together yet another solid shift. Indiana stayed within striking distance by getting to the free throw line. The Nuggets were sloppy with the half winding down and let the Pacers back in it. After three straight turnovers resulting in three straight dunks the lead was just one. Denver managed to close strong though, and went to half up 64-58.

The Nuggets scored the first six points of the third quarter but still weren’t taking care of the ball as well as they should. Jokic was more aggressive than he was in the first half and routinely looked to take it to Turner in the paint. Both teams stayed sloppy, and it seemed 50/50 as to whether they’d trade baskets or turnovers. Gordon was back to work on Denver’s end and helped push the lead back to double digits. Unfortunately he got himself into foul trouble again and Denver’s offense died again when he went out. Their defense was still strong though and they stayed ahead by about ten towards the end of the quarter. They closed strong once again, and rattled off an 8-0 run to put their team up 100-83 after three.

Denver’s bench group couldn’t score to begin the fourth, Zeke Nnaji got the first points of the quarter with a jumper at the ten minute mark. Indianapolis wasn’t exactly burning down the nets but they started chipping away at the Nuggets lead. They were up by just ten when Jokic checked back in. Christian Braun was active and cutting on offense to stop the bleeding. Meanwhile, Indiana looked tired on offense and they were content to settle for three pointers except when Denver gift wrapped them a basket with a turnover. Jokic kept finding Braun with dimes in the lane and the Pacers kept bricking threes to put the Nuggets back up double digits. To Indiana’s credit, they kept fighting but eventually just ran out of time. A big Michael Porter Jr. dunk sealed it and Denver wins 125-116.

Feb 24, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) shoots the ball while Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) defends in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Jokic master class in passing

Nikola was at his finest in terms of finding his teammates tonight. The Pacers went a stretch in the third quarter where they tried to play Jokic straight up with Turner and Turner got crushed. The rest of the game they pretty much sent consistent doubles. Jokic simply went into passing mode and found open teammate after open teammate. Then in the fourth quarter he basically decided dribbling was for chumps and just hit Braun with pinpoint passes straight to the restricted circle which Christian cashed in for easy points. In the end Nikola finishes the game with a new career high 19 assists and yet another example that he will always figure your defense out.

An up and down game from the bench

Feb 24, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4) passes the ball while Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) defends in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Tonight’s minutes were some of the best of Nnaji’s career. He filled the role of bench shot blocker that Peyton Watson normally occupies and also knocked down several shots, including some big ones. He ended up leading the bench in scoring with fourteen points. Pickett also had a positive evening. Unlike Zeke, he wasn’t part of the rotation but found himself called into duty when Murray got into foul trouble early in the second quarter. Pickett hit a pair of big shots and had a nice assist in that stretch and provided a spark in his four minutes. On the downside, the bench looked pretty out of sorts for big stretches when they didn’t have Jokic to steady them. Russell Westbrook had a down game and Julian Strawther didn’t hit shots when you needed him to. Denver’s bench is a huge component to a potential title run and they need to start getting some consistency from their bench, particularly the guards, soon.