Nikola Jokic racked up 31 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and dished out 10 assists, marking his 13th triple-double, leading the Denver Nuggets to a 114-109 victory over the Indiana Pacers during Tuesday’s NBA action.
Jokic’s prowess extended beyond the arc, where he hit 3 of 4 three-point attempts, including a pivotal one towards the end of the first half and a game-clinching three with just 6.1 seconds remaining, cementing Denver’s win over Indiana. Remarkably, Jokic committed just one turnover in the game.
Jokic also played an unexpected role in the game’s strategy. He persuaded coach Michael Malone to challenge two referee calls, both overturned. This strategic intervention was crucial, especially the second challenge that retained a vital possession for Denver during a critical phase of the game. Jokic capitalized on this with a key three-pointer, putting Denver ahead 105-103 with 3:10 left.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers Updates
Nuggets coach Mike Malone, acknowledging their nine-year partnership, praised Jokic’s judgment in calling for challenges. He noted their recent success in overturning decisions, highlighting the game-changing potential of these moments.
“We’ve been together for nine years, and he’s proven to be very trustworthy,” Malone said of Jokic. “I think we’ve won five challenges in a row and those can be game-changing type plays and I thought that late one was. So it works out in our favor.”
Jamal Murray matched Jokic’s scoring with 31 points of his own. The duo orchestrated crucial plays in the game’s closing stages, contributing to Denver’s third consecutive win and extending their winning streak against the Pacers to eight games.
Myles Turner led the Pacers with 22 points, and Pascal Siakam, in his first home game since joining Indiana, added 16 points and 10 rebounds. The Pacers were without All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton, sidelined with a hamstring strain, and he is expected to miss at least two more games.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers Updates
Despite being ejected in the third quarter for back-to-back technical fouls, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle acknowledged Jokic’s impact, especially his critical three-pointers at the end of both halves.
“The two defining plays of the game were the 3 at the end of the first half and the 3 at the end of the game,” Carlisle said. “He’s just much more aggressively looking for those shots in those situations, and there’s just no hesitation. Those are great players making great plays.”
The game, featuring two of the NBA’s top-scoring teams, had offensive struggles. Yet, the defending champions managed enough offense and defense to resist Indiana’s late rally after heading into the final quarter with a 93-81 lead.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers Updates
The Pacers gradually closed the gap, even briefly leading 103-102, thanks to Ben Sheppard’s three-pointer. However, Jokic’s successful challenge request and subsequent go-ahead basket sparked a decisive 12-6 run to secure the Nuggets’ victory.
Looking ahead, the Nuggets will conclude their five-game road trip against the New York Knicks on Thursday, while the Pacers will host the Philadelphia 76ers in Indianapolis.
