Nikola Jokić Shatters Assist Record as Nuggets Defeat Pacers
Nikola Jokić's record-breaking night guided the Denver Nuggets to victory over the Indiana Pacers, showcasing the star center's unique playmaking capabilities.
On Monday evening, Jokić registered a career-high 19 assists, leading the Nuggets to a 125-116 win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. This incredible feat has placed him among the legends, being the first center to achieve such numbers since Wilt Chamberlain back in 1968. With this performance, Jokić surpassed his previous personal best of 18 assists and is now second only to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the all-time assists list for centers, with both players having crossed the 5,000-assist threshold.
Jokić also contributed 18 points and 9 rebounds to the win, demonstrating how integral he is to the Nuggets' offense. He shot 9-of-14 from the field and is currently averaging impressive career numbers this season with 29.4 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game. These stats put him in the spotlight for the MVP race, trailing only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Giannis Antetokounmpo for points, and second to Trae Young for assists.
“A new career-high 19 assists for Nikola!” tweeted the official Denver Nuggets account, highlighting the excitement surrounding his historic night. Jokić's final assist came through a screen to teammate Michael Porter Jr., who finished with authority at the rim, demonstrating the synergy between the players.
Aaron Gordon also shone brightly, leading the scoring for Denver with 25 points, complemented by Porter’s 19 points and 11 rebounds. The Nuggets saw all five starters reach double digits, with Christian Braun contributing 17 points and Jamal Murray 16, which speaks to their balanced offensive approach — shooting over 56% from the field overall.
For the Pacers, Myles Turner was the standout performer, scoring 23 points. He was joined by Tyrese Haliburton, who contributed 19 points and 15 assists, and Pascal Siakam, who added 19 points and 9 rebounds. Despite their efforts, the Pacers fell short, ending their three-game winning streak and dropping to 32-24 for the season.
Throughout the game, the Nuggets effectively utilized their size advantage, outscoring the Pacers 74-46 in the paint. They led by as much as 13 before settling for a slim 64-58 lead at halftime. Indiana had briefly threatened by narrowing the gap to 56-55 after Obi Toppin's fast-break dunk but couldn’t manage to capitalize fully, as Denver responded with a 6-0 run to regain control.
Even with strong performances from Indiana, such as the team making 14 of 43 attempts from three-point range, they struggled defensively against the turnaround and inside game of the Nuggets. Taking note of this, key moments included Gordon’s late jumper to push the lead after the Pacers had closed to 115-108, showing Denver's resilience even under pressure.
The Nuggets' impressive victory marks their bounce-back moment following the previous loss against the Los Angeles Lakers, which had snapped their nine-game winning streak. Their current standing sees them second in the Western Conference with 38 wins against 20 losses, but they still trail nearly ten games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Looking forward, the Nuggets will face the Milwaukee Bucks next, and fans are optimistic about Jokić’s continued ascent this season. Can he maintain these exceptional stats and potentially secure his fourth MVP award or lead Denver to their first championship? Only time will tell, but his performance against the Pacers indicates he’s on the right track.
On the other hand, the Pacers will regroup as they prepare to host the Toronto Raptors next, aiming to recalibrate after this setback. With the NBA season heating up, both teams will be looking to maximize their chances as the playoffs draw closer.