The Jokic Mexico City debut produced 19 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists, plus an arena chanting "MVP." Denver beat Indiana 114-102 on Saturday before a sellout crowd of more than 20,000 at Arena CDMX.
It was the first Mexico City appearance for either team. The Pacers had never played in Mexico, and the Nuggets had appeared in the country once, a 2006 preseason game against Golden State in Monterrey. The night was the 35th NBA game played in Mexico, including 16 regular-season and 19 preseason games.
Jokic Mexico City debut draws the loudest noise
The building was packed with Pacers yellow jerseys, yet much of the volume seemed directed at the Serbian center. Jokic said afterward he could not tell who the cheers were for.
"It was a really good crowd. The energy was there the whole game. I didn't know who they were cheering or if it was just for us, but the energy was the most important thing," Jokic told reporters.
He treated the trip as a broader exercise in reach rather than a one-off exhibition.
"I think basketball is a global sport, and I think it's really good to travel as a team all over the world. I think it's really nice to see the love from the fans that are supporting us... Mexican people are really emotional, really passionate about whatever they're doing," Jokic said.
Before tip-off, Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon addressed the crowd in Spanish: "Vamos Nuggets. Viva Mexico."
Denver builds 27, then absorbs Indiana's third quarter
Denver controlled most of the first half, building a lead of as many as 27 on the way to a 64-41 halftime edge. Indiana answered with a 37-point third quarter and pulled within 102-95 with 7:27 left.
The response came from Jamal Murray finding a cutting Spencer Jones under the basket, and Denver restored a double-digit cushion. Cameron Johnson added 18 points, Murray had 16 points and eight assists, and Jones scored 13 off the bench.
Jones was making his season debut after missing the first seven games with a hamstring injury. Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 23 points, and Larry Nance Jr. added 15, tying a career best with five 3-pointers.
Tyrese Haliburton's hamstring strain thins Indiana
The Pacers were without All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who missed the trip with a hamstring strain. His absence blunted a game marketed around him and Jokic, and left Indiana without its primary offensive organizer.
Between quarters, the arena recognized former NBA players Danilo Gallinari, Nene Hilario, Greivis Vasquez and Horacio Llamas, the first Mexican-born player in the NBA.
Analysis: the number that framed the finish
The load-bearing figure is 7:27. Denver's cushion had been reduced to seven, and the next possession decided whether the game became a scramble or stayed a controlled structure. Murray's pass to Jones did not just add two points; it reset the floor geometry, forcing Indiana to foul-and-chase from distance rather than attack a set defense.
What comes next for both teams
Denver improved to 5-3, while Indiana fell to 3-7. The Nuggets play at Houston on Monday night, their first game back on U.S. soil after the Mexico City trip.
The original report was published by gmanetwork.com.
