Nikola Jokic recorded 19 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists as the Denver Nuggets defeated the Indiana Pacers 114-102 in Mexico City on Saturday.
Jokic scored 10 points in the first quarter, helping Denver establish an early lead in the NBA Mexico City Game. The Nuggets improved to 5-3 with their fourth win in five games.
Cameron Johnson added 18 points for Denver, while Jamal Murray finished with 16 points and eight assists. Spencer Jones contributed 13 points off the bench, and DeMar DeRozan scored 11.
Denver took control with a decisive second-quarter run. After Indiana went four minutes without scoring, the Nuggets put together a 15-0 stretch.
Murray’s jumper extended the lead to 64-37 with less than a minute remaining before halftime. Denver entered the break ahead 64-41 after outscoring Indiana 37-22 in the second quarter.
The Pacers responded after halftime, scoring 37 points in the third quarter. Back-to-back three-pointers from Aaron Nesmith helped cut the deficit to 79-67, while Quenton Jackson’s layup brought Indiana within 10.
Jarace Walker later made a three-pointer to reduce Denver’s advantage to 102-95 with 7:26 remaining. The Nuggets answered with six consecutive points to regain control.
Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 23 points and five assists, while Larry Nance Jr. added 15 points off the bench. Ivica Zubac recorded 10 points and 12 rebounds.
The Pacers fell to 3-7, losing for the fifth time in their last six games. They played without Tyrese Haliburton, who missed the Mexico City trip with a hamstring strain.
The game marked the NBA’s 35th appearance in Mexico since the league first brought exhibition games to the country in 1992. No country outside the United States and Canada has hosted more NBA games.
Denver visits the Houston Rockets on Monday, while Indiana travels to face the Dallas Mavericks.
