Jokic, Nuggets build 27-point lead and beat Pacers 114-102

Nikola Jokic had 19 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists as the Denver Nuggets built a 27-point second-quarter lead and beat the Indiana Pacers 114-102 on Saturday.

Indiana scored the game's first five points. Denver answered with a 10-0 run for a 14-7 lead in the first quarter, and a 12-0 burst early in the second made it 46-28. The Pacers never led again.

Denver outscored Indiana 37-22 in the second quarter, and the lead peaked at 27, 64-37, with 1:05 left in the half. Jokic shot 7-of-20 but made all four of his free throws.

Indiana scored 37 points in the third quarter and won it by 11. Denver still led 106-95 with five minutes to play and took the final stretch 8-7.

Jamal Murray's basket made it 110-99, and Andrew Nembhard answered with a 27-foot 3-pointer with 2:07 left for 110-102. Murray made two free throws on Denver's next trip, and Aaron Gordon hit two more with 38.9 seconds left.

Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 23 points on 10-of-18 shooting. Larry Nance Jr. made five 3-pointers and scored 15 points in 13 minutes off the bench, and Ivica Zubac had 10 points and 12 rebounds. The Pacers' bench outscored Denver's 52-43.

Ball security and the line decided it. Denver committed three turnovers to Indiana's 10 and made 16 of 19 free throws, while the Pacers attempted only seven.

Cameron Johnson added 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting for Denver, and Murray finished with 16 points and eight assists. Spencer Jones scored 13 off the bench, made all three of his 3-point attempts and was plus-14 in 21 minutes. Denver improved to 5-3, and Indiana fell to 3-7.

Up next

Nuggets: at the Houston Rockets on Monday, November 9.

Pacers: at the Dallas Mavericks on Monday, November 9.