Nuggets Dominate Pacers Despite Injuries, Win 117-100

DENVER, Colorado – The Denver Nuggets proved their resilience on Saturday night with a 117-100 victory over the Indiana Pacers, despite missing two key players. Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon were sidelined due to precautionary injuries, but Denver (7-2) managed to maintain their perfect home record this season during a back-to-back contest.

Nikola Jokic led the team, recording a triple-double with 32 points, 14 rebounds, and 14 assists. He overcame a tough start with eight turnovers to steer the team to victory. Peyton Watson shone as a starter, chipping in 16 points, seven rebounds, and three steals. Tim Hardaway Jr. provided vital support off the bench with 17 points.

The win marked the Nuggets’ fourth consecutive victory at Ball Arena, showing their strength at home as they have yet to trail in the second half of a game this season. Coach David Adelman explained that Murray’s calf tightness and Gordon’s hamstring management were primarily precautionary measures ahead of their first road trip.

“If you feel something that you know could turn into something worse, there is a little apprehension,” Adelman noted about Gordon’s absence. Despite not playing, Gordon was active on the sideline, picking up a technical foul early in the third quarter while defending a teammate’s honor.

The Pacers, short-handed without Tyrese Haliburton, chipped away at a 19-point deficit at one point, narrowing it to 64-61 thanks to a four-point play following Gordon’s technical foul. However, the Nuggets demonstrated remarkable depth, with players like Cam Johnson and Julian Strawther stepping up during crucial moments. Johnson executed a highlight-play that turned into a three-point play, while Strawther finished with a solid 12 points and six rebounds.

Individual performances varied as the Nuggets look to balance their scoring this season, aligning with their strategy of shared offense without over-relying on Jokic. This game signifies their ability to adapt without key starters and could inform future rotations.

Bouncing back after an earlier defeat by the Golden State Warriors, the Nuggets displayed not just talent but a strong team ethos, as they prepare for their upcoming road games against the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Clippers.