Nuggets Pacers 114-102: Jokic Stars as Denver Holds Off Indiana in Mexico City

The Denver Nuggets held off a late Indiana Pacers rally to win the Nuggets Pacers 114-102 game on Saturday night at Arena CDMX in Mexico City, in front of a sellout crowd of more than 20,000 fans chanting "MVP" for Nikola Jokic. Jokic finished with 19 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists, just short of a triple-double, as Denver built a 27-point lead, watched it shrink to seven midway through the fourth quarter, and still closed out the NBA's Mexico City game. Cameron Johnson added 18 points and Jamal Murray scored 16 for the Nuggets, who improved to 5-3 with their fourth win in five games.

Key Points

• Nikola Jokic scored 19 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and dished out eight assists, just short of a triple-double, in front of a sellout crowd of more than 20,000 at Arena CDMX.
• Denver led 64-41 at halftime after a 37-22 second quarter and stretched the lead to 27 points before Indiana cut it to seven midway through the fourth.
• Pascal Siakam led all scorers with 23 points for Indiana, which fell to 3-7 on the season.
• The Nuggets committed only three turnovers to Indiana's 10 and got 43 points from their bench.
• It was the NBA's 16th regular-season game in Mexico and the 35th NBA game there since exhibition games began in 1992, and the first Mexico City appearance for either team.

Nuggets Pacers 114-102: How Denver Built the Lead and Survived the Rally

Jokic set the tone early. The three-time MVP scored 10 of his 19 points in the first quarter, and Denver took control in the second, outscoring Indiana 37-22 to carry a 64-41 lead into halftime. The advantage reached 27 points after the break as the game looked settled. Johnson scored 18 points and Murray added 16, and Denver's offence moved the ball cleanly all night, finishing with just three turnovers against Indiana's 10.

Indiana did not fold. The Pacers chipped away through the third quarter and into the fourth, and midway through the final period the gap was down to seven points. Siakam led the push, finishing as the game's top scorer with 23 points. But the Nuggets steadied themselves in the closing minutes, made the plays they needed at both ends, and held on for a 114-102 win that was closer than the early blowout had suggested. Denver's bench scored 43 points, giving the starters support when the Pacers were closing in.

Background: Mexico City, Day of the Dead and a First for Both Teams

Saturday's game was the NBA's latest Mexico City showcase, the league's 16th regular-season game in Mexico and its 35th NBA game in the country since exhibition games began there in 1992. It was also a first for both franchises: neither Denver nor Indiana had played in Mexico City before. The game was staged during Day of the Dead week, the third consecutive year the NBA has played in Mexico City around the holiday, and a sellout crowd of more than 20,000 filled Arena CDMX.

The crowd made its feelings clear about Jokic. Chants of "MVP" followed the three-time MVP through the night, a reminder that his appeal now travels well beyond Denver. The Mexico City game has become one of the NBA's most reliable international dates, a full house for a regular-season game that counts in the standings, and Saturday delivered both the spectacle and the drama, with a 27-point lead, a fourth-quarter rally and a finish that kept the crowd on its feet.

Reactions: What the Numbers and the Crowd Said

No post-game quotes were included in the game reports, so the clearest reactions on Saturday came from the box score and the arena. Jokic's line, 19 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists, was two assists short of a triple-double, and the 10 points he scored in the first quarter showed how quickly he imposed himself on the game. The "MVP" chants were the crowd's verdict on a player who has won the award three times and remains the centre of everything Denver does.

The team numbers told the rest. Denver's 37-22 second quarter built the halftime lead that decided the game, and the 43 bench points showed a roster contributing beyond its stars. Indiana's 10 turnovers to Denver's three explained why the Pacers could never quite get over the hump, even when they cut a 27-point lead to seven. Siakam's 23 points led all scorers, but he needed more help to turn the rally into a result.

Why It Matters

Saturday's result matters first for the standings. Denver improved to 5-3 with its fourth win in five games, a solid start that keeps the Nuggets in the early-season mix in the West. The win also showed the team's balance: Jokic near a triple-double, Johnson and Murray scoring, and 43 points from the bench. That is the profile of a team that does not depend on one player to win.

It matters for Indiana too, but in the opposite direction. The Pacers fell to 3-7, and while the rally showed fight, the slow start that produced a 27-point deficit is the problem. Siakam's 23 points led all scorers, yet Indiana still lost by 12. And it matters for the NBA's Mexico City project: a sellout crowd of more than 20,000, "MVP" chants for a visiting star, and a game that stayed dramatic into the fourth quarter is exactly what the league wants from its international showcase.

What Happens Next

Denver does not get long to enjoy the trip. The Nuggets play at Houston on Monday night, a road game against a Western Conference rival that will test whether the form of the last five games travels. A win there would make it five victories in six games.

Indiana, meanwhile, heads home at 3-7 needing answers. The Pacers showed they can fight back from a big deficit, but they will want to fix the starts that keep putting them in those holes, and to cut down the turnovers that cost them against Denver.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the final score between the Nuggets and the Pacers?
Denver beat Indiana 114-102 on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Arena CDMX in Mexico City.

How did Nikola Jokic play?
Jokic scored 19 points, with 13 rebounds and eight assists, just short of a triple-double, and scored 10 points in the first quarter.

Who led all scorers?
Pascal Siakam, with 23 points for Indiana. Cameron Johnson added 18 and Jamal Murray 16 for Denver.

How big was the crowd in Mexico City?
A sellout of more than 20,000 fans at Arena CDMX, chanting "MVP" for Jokic.

What is next for the Nuggets?
Denver plays at Houston on Monday night, after improving to 5-3 with four wins in its last five games.

Read more on US News Pulse: the Nuggets beat the Suns 127-120 as Murray scored 39 in the NBA Cup, the Heat beat the Pacers 145-125 behind Giannis Antetokounmpo's triple-double, and Wembanyama's 30 points powered the Spurs past the Kings 124-109.