Reigning MVP candidate Nikola Jokic orchestrated a masterclass on Feb. 24, tallying 19 assists with 18 points and nine rebounds as the Denver Nuggets defeated the Indiana Pacers 125-116 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Jokic’s 19 assists mark a career-high, underscoring the ‘Big Quesarito’s’ playmaking ability as he dissected Indiana’s defense.
Following the game, Jokic said he doesn’t keep up with career-best nights and breaking records.
“No, I don’t (keep track), but it is nice to know,” Jokic said. “Every game is different. (Tonight) people were making shots and cutting, and I was finding them. It was that kind of night. I am just trying to do my job as best as I can.”
Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon led all scorers with 25 points on 11-of-17 shooting while teammates Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray added 19 and 16 points, respectively.
Denver (38-20) controlled the game from the opening tip, laying down a 36-28 foundation behind Gordon’s early offensive tide.
The Pacers (32-24) responded in the second frame, led by center Myles Turner, who scored 14 of his 23 points in the first half while attacking the rim and knocking down outside shots. Turner attempted eight free throws before halftime, keeping Indiana competitive despite Denver’s efficient play.
While Jokic flirted with a first-half triple-double, Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton took a different approach. Haliburton was passive (no pun intended) in the opening half, attempting only three shots while focusing on distributing the ball.
Despite this, Haliburton turned up the aggression in the latter half, finishing the contest with 19 points and 15 assists in a double-double effort.
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The third quarter proved to be the decisive stretch, as Denver erupted for another 36-point frame while limiting Indiana to just 25. Jokic’s ability to orchestrate the offense created open looks for teammates, and his defensive rebounding helped limit second-chance opportunities for the Pacers.
Christian Braun provided key minutes for Denver, scoring 17 points while playing tight perimeter defense. Off the bench, Zeke Nnaji contributed 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting. Denver’s ability to score in the paint (74 points) and share the ball (39 assists) overwhelmed Indiana.
Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle didn’t hold back following the contest.
“We had 18 turnovers, we lost the boards pretty substantially and had a rough shot-making night,” Carlisle said. “It was a rough game. We got it (the deficit) down to as low as six. They put us in tough positions, and we didn’t handle it very well.”
Despite the loss, the Pacers showed resilience in the fourth quarter, outscoring Denver 33-25. Pascal Siakam added 19 points, and Aaron Nesmith chipped in 17. Rookie Ben Sheppard provided energy off the bench, grabbing seven rebounds in 24 minutes.
For Nuggets superfan Ron Taylor, a native of Indiana who often makes the trip to see his favorite team, Jokic’s performance reinforced his belief that the Serbian center is a generational talent.
“He’s breaking records that only Wilt Chamberlain holds,” Taylor said before the game. “I don’t know who else you can put as MVP. He’s redefining what is good in basketball. Bro (Jokic) might actually be Wilt Chamberlain.”
Before the contest, Taylor projected a score of 135-127, which wasn’t too far off from the score at the final buzzer.
The Pacers look to bounce back in their next matchup, taking on the Toronto Raptors Feb. 26 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Contact Multi-Media & Senior Sports Reporter Noral Parham III at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral. For more sports, click here.
Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Parham has worked with various leagues to provide a diverse perspective in sports, including the Big Ten, Big East, IHSAA, IndyCar, MLB, NHRA, NFL, NBA, WNBA, WWE and the Olympics. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
