Nikola Jokic recorded 19 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists, fueling the Denver Nuggets to a 114-102 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday in Mexico City.
Cameron Johnson scored a season-high 18 points and Jamal Murray added 16 to give the fans a thrill in the 35th NBA game played in Mexico.
Spencer Jones contributed 13 points and six rebounds in his season debut after being sidelined by a hamstring injury,
Aaron Gordon scored 12 points, DeMar DeRozan had 11 points and Marvin Bagley III added 10 for the Nuggets, who had seven players score in double digits and all 11 dent the scoresheet.
Denver benefited from a decided advantage at the free-throw line. The Nuggets made 16 of 19 shots from the charity stripe, as opposed to 5 of 7 by the Pacers.
Playing in his 700th NBA game, Indiana’s Pascal Siakam scored 23 points to eclipse 13,000 in his career (13,003).
Larry Nance Jr. matched a career high with five 3-pointers to finish with 15 points and Ivica Zubac collected 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Pacers, who have lost six of their last seven games.
T.J. McConnell scored six off the bench in his season debut. He had been sidelined with a hamstring strain.
Indiana cut a 27-point deficit to seven at 102-95 in the fourth quarter before Jones halted the momentum with a layup. Denver steadily pulled away to record its fourth win in the last five games.
Nance drained a 3-pointer to bring Indiana within six at 34-28 early in the second quarter before Denver responded with a 15-0 run. Spencer Jones and Tyus Jones each sank a 3-pointer during the Nuggets’ pronounced surge.
Denver increased its lead to 25 at 74-49 early in the third quarter before Indiana responded with a 29-14 run, capped by Quenton Jackson’s running layup.
