Obi Toppin Leads Pacers Past Reeling Nuggets

Obi Toppin scored 22 points in his second start of the season, leading the Indiana Pacers to a 125-120 victory over the reeling Denver Nuggets, who fell for their fourth consecutive loss. Myles Turner's 24 points topped the Pacers' scoring list.

The Pacers overcame a 13-point first-half deficit and an off-night by Tyrese Haliburton, whose nine points on eight shots were less than half his scoring average. Despite Nikola Jokic's dominant performance with 41 points, 15 rebounds, and 13 assists, the Nuggets lost.

Jokic was charged with a crucial backcourt turnover with the Nuggets trailing 122-120 in the final seconds, but it was Christian Braun who misread the dribble-handoff from Jokic and caused the turnover. "Hopefully" Jamal Murray will return for the start of the NBA playoffs, said coach Michael Malone.

The Pacers were without Pascal Siakam (right elbow), and Haliburton came in averaging 18.6 points per game but was held scoreless until his 3-pointer with 3:43 left in the third quarter tied it at 84-all. His floater gave Indiana a 98-97 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The Nuggets entered Sunday's game in fourth place in the bunched-up Western Conference, just a game ahead of the eighth-place Memphis Grizzlies.

Takeaways

Pacers: Indiana showed it can win without Siakam and that depth should prove beneficial in the playoffs. The Pacers are solidly in fourth place in the East.

Nuggets: Denver is falling fast. The Nuggets were in second place not that long ago and now could be facing a play-in game just to make it into the playoffs.

Key moment

Jokic's bad pass to Russell Westbrook in the closing seconds was the Nuggets' third turnover in the final 2 minutes and sixth of the fourth quarter.

Key stat

Malone successfully challenged two foul calls on Denver in the first half, one on Jokic and the other on Christian Braun.

Up next

The Pacers return home to play the Washington Wizards on Tuesday. The Nuggets visit the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.