Denver Nuggets 114, Indiana Pacers 102: A 37-point second quarter held up
Denver built a 23-point halftime lead on a 37-point second quarter, survived Indiana's third-quarter push and covered the 8.5 in Mexico City.
The Denver Nuggets won this one in the second quarter and spent the second half protecting it. A 37-22 period at Arena CDMX turned an eight-point lead into a 64-41 halftime cushion. The Indiana Pacers answered with a 37-point third, but they never got closer than a dozen in a way that changed the outcome. Denver won 114-102 and is now 5-3.
The margin came from two things: Denver hardly gave the ball away, and it lived in the paint. Five turnovers against Indiana's 10, and 54 points inside against 44.
How it was won
Indiana led early. The Pacers' largest lead was 5, all of it in the opening minutes. Denver took the first quarter 27-19 and then ran away with the second. The Nuggets' largest lead reached 27.
The third quarter belonged to Indiana. The Pacers outscored Denver 37-26 and cut the gap to 90-78 going into the fourth. That was as much as the comeback produced. The fourth finished 24-24, and Denver never had to chase.
The shooting splits explain how. Indiana took 48 threes and made 15. Denver took 35 and made 10, a poor night from deep. The Nuggets made up for it inside: 34 two-point field goals to Indiana's 26. They also got to the line more, going 16-of-19 on free throws to Indiana's 5-of-7. That 11-point gap at the stripe is close to the final margin.
Denver also won the glass 51-45. Indiana assisted on 30 baskets to Denver's 29, so the Pacers moved the ball well enough. They just turned it over twice as often and didn't get easy points.
Nikola Jokic had 19 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists, shooting 1-of-3 from three. It was a steady line rather than a loud one. Cameron Johnson added 18 points, 2-of-5 from deep. Jamal Murray scored 16 with 6 rebounds and 8 assists.
For Indiana, Pascal Siakam led everyone with 23 points and 5 assists, but went 2-of-7 from three. Larry Nance Jr. was the Pacers' most efficient shooter outside, 5-of-7 from three for 15 points. Ivica Zubac had 10 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists.
Indiana drops to 3-7.
Against the number
Denver closed at -8.5 and won by 12, so the favorite covered. The halftime lead did most of the work. Indiana's third quarter brought the margin within range of the number, but the even fourth meant the Pacers never got there.
The total closed at 229.5. The teams combined for 216, an under by 13.5. With 83 missed field-goal attempts between them and 58 missed threes, that is not a surprise in hindsight. Indiana's 37-point third was the only stretch that threatened the over pace after halftime.
On the moneyline, Denver closed at -324 and Indiana at +261. At those prices the market had the Nuggets winning roughly three times in four, and this game went the way the market expected.
The full closing board is on the game page.
What's next
Denver has won two straight and three of its last four. Next is a road game on Monday, November 9, at the Houston Rockets, on ALT2/KTVD and KUSA-TV (9NEWS). The three-point shooting will need to be better than 10-of-35. The ball security and the paint scoring are what the Nuggets will want to carry over.
Indiana's next game was not in the material we have. The Pacers leave Mexico City at 3-7, with a third quarter worth building on and a first half worth forgetting.
