Jamal Murray delivered one of the most efficient performances of his career, scoring 52 points to lead the Denver Nuggets past the Indiana Pacers 135-120 on Wednesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Murray shot 19 of 25 from the field and 10 of 11 from deep, pushing Denver to 15-6 and securing its second-highest scoring total of the season.
He entered the night questionable due to a sprained right ankle, yet he produced his best scoring outing of the season and came within three points of tying his career high.
Nikola Jokic added 24 points, eight rebounds and 13 assists, missing a triple-double by two boards. The three-time MVP continues to pace the league with 11 triple-doubles and anchored an offense that had five players score in double figures.
Denver seized early control behind a 13-0 first-quarter run that opened a 27-17 lead, attacking the Pacers’ depleted frontcourt with strong interior play and timely shooting.
Indiana trimmed the deficit to 50-45 midway through the second, but the Nuggets countered with a 22-3 surge that held the Pacers scoreless for more than four minutes.
That run helped Denver take a 72-48 lead into halftime, setting the tone for a night where the Western Conference contenders showcased their depth and spacing.
The Nuggets pushed the margin to 92-63 midway through the third quarter, capitalizing on Murray’s outside shooting and Jokic’s orchestration in the half court.
Indiana, however, refused to fold and cut the deficit to 13 multiple times in the fourth quarter as its bench injected needed energy.
Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 23 points and four assists, steadying an offense missing key rotation players due to early-season injuries.
Andrew Nembhard added 16 points and seven assists, while six Pacers reached double figures, but the team slid to 4-18 after its second straight loss.
Despite the late push, Indiana struggled to match the output of the league’s most efficient offense, finishing with 12 turnovers and allowing Denver to shoot 59% from the field.
Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Peyton Watson each scored in double figures off the bench, helping secure Denver’s third win in five games.
The Nuggets return to action Friday in Atlanta, while the Pacers travel to Chicago seeking to regain the momentum from their brief two-game winning streak.
