Denver beat Indiana 114-102 on 7 November 2026 in Mexico City, after seeing a 27-point lead shrink to seven. The final score tells the story of a win that was controlled at first, then defended in a final quarter in which the Pacers made the finish uncertain.
A lead built before half-time
Indiana initially led 5-0, then 7-4. Denver responded with a run of ten consecutive points and never relinquished the lead thereafter. At half-time, the Nuggets led 64-41, a 23-point margin. Their lead peaked at 27 points.
These two figures convey the potential for a shift in momentum: Denver had built a considerable advantage, but that did not guarantee a comfortable finish. The Nuggets’ match report attributes a significant part of their performance to defence. According to figures published by the club, Indiana recorded an « offensive rating » of just 86,0 in half-court play, that is, outside transition. This measure estimates the number of points scored per 100 possessions; the club states that this performance ranked in the 26th percentile. The Pacers also converted 31,3% of their three-point attempts.
These figures describe Indiana’s offensive struggles in this game, not a general weakness in the team. They nevertheless help explain why Denver were able to extend their lead before the break: the Pacers made few three-pointers and were not very effective in half-court play.
Indiana comes back in spells
The game changed tone after half-time. Indiana scored 37 points in the third quarter, then continued their comeback. A driving lay-up by Jarace Walker brought the Pacers to 102-95, with 7 min 27 s remaining: the margin was down to seven points.
The reduced margin does not mean Denver lost control of the game, but it put pressure on every possession again. The Nuggets responded quickly, with a basket from Spencer Jones followed by a dunk from Aaron Gordon, according to the match report. These were two specific plays, coming when Indiana came closest to completing a comeback.
Denver then held on to their lead until the buzzer. The 114-102 score reflects both the impact of the first half and the Pacers’ ability to mount an offensive surge after the break. It was therefore neither a close contest from start to finish nor a win without alarm: the gap first opened up, then the game came back to life.
Jokić orchestrates as Johnson and Jones contribute
Nikola Jokić finished with 19 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists. He fell two assists short of a triple-double, a performance involving at least ten in three statistical categories. The centre therefore made an all-round contribution without reaching that threshold. Jamal Murray added 16 points and Cameron Johnson 18.
The Denver club highlights Johnson’s shooting efficiency: eight shots made from twelve attempts. This is more informative than a points total on its own, as it also shows how those points were scored.
Spencer Jones scored 13 points in 21 minutes, making five of his six shots and all three of his three-point attempts. He also grabbed six rebounds. The club says this was his first game of the season, after an absence caused by a hamstring injury. Denver scored 14 more points than Indiana during his minutes on the court. This difference, known as plus-minus, is a team measure during the minutes a player is on the court: it should be considered alongside his shooting and rebounds when assessing his contribution.
Marvin Bagley III, coming off the bench, scored ten points in eleven minutes and made all four of his free throws. Denver’s rotation thus provided points beyond the contributions of the starters.
A win in Mexico City, a 5-3 record
The game was played at Arena CDMX, in front of more than 20 000 spectators, according to RTL’s match report. The NBA billed the game as its 16th regular-season game in Mexico. The league had also held 19 pre-season games there, making the country one of the most regular destinations for NBA basketball outside the United States and Canada.
For Denver, the win took their record to five victories and three defeats, according to the club. The Nuggets also say they now have two wins and no defeats in regular-season games played internationally.
Indiana were again without the injured Tyrese Haliburton, RTL reports. The Pacers’ offensive comeback after the break shows that they were able to cut the deficit without him. The clearest conclusion lies in the sequences: Denver turned a hesitant start into a substantial lead, then had to respond when Indiana’s pressure returned.
References
- « Nuggets hold off Pacers in NBA Mexico City game » — RTL Today
- « Nuggets defeat Pacers in Mexico City Game » — Denver Nuggets
Nikola Jokić during Denver–Washington, on 23 March 2018. Archive photograph, distinct from the November 2026 game in Mexico City.
Photograph: Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA — Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 2.0.
