Nikola Jokic leads the Nuggets’ victory over the Pacers in Mexico

Nikola Jokic led the Denver Nuggets’ 114-102 victory over the Indiana Pacers this Saturday in an NBA season game held at the Mexico City Arena.

The Serbian stood out with a double-double, He contributed 19 points and 13 rebounds, and added eight assists.

For the Pacers, Cameroonian Pascal Siakam was the best scorer with 23 points.

Denver dominated the first quarter 27-19 thanks to the quality of Jokic, who imposed his dominance in the paint with six rebounds and contributed 10 points.

The Nuggets also did damage in transition with the speed of Cameron Johnson and Aaron Gordon, who scored four points each.

The Pacers suffered the absence of their star Tyrese Haliburton, injured hamstring; Cameroonian Pascal Siakam, who assumed that role, struggled to give balance to his quintet.

Denver extended the lead to 51-32 midway through the second quarter with the effectiveness of DeMar DeRozan and Marvin Bagley III from the bench.

Indiana did not find a way to counteract the transition speed of the Nuggets, who had an offensive feast, with a 49 percent field goal percentage, to go into halftime leading 64-41.

In the third quarter the Pacers reacted. They got closer 90-78 driven by the strength of Croatian Ivica Zubac in the paint, the hot hand of Pascal Siakam and the effectiveness in triples of Larry Nance Jr, who hit five of five.

At the end, the Pacers put the game in a dramatic zone, 102-95, led by Pascal Siakam, but Denver put out the storm to complete the 114-102 victory.

Adam Silver, commissioner of the NBA, was present at the Mexico City Arena to enjoy this duel that was the 35th regular season of the National Basketball Association to be held in the capital of this country.

“We are focused on an expansion for the United States, however several investors in Mexico have approached us. This is a wonderful arena, but currently our priority is in the United States. I have no doubt that a franchise in Mexico would be successful, although we will have to wait for now,” Silver said about the future expansion of the NBA.