In a game that featured an individual performance for the ages, Myles Turner and the Indiana Pacers managed to steal the spotlight and ruin Nikola Jokić’s unbelievable triple-double performance. It was a game where history almost belonged to Jokić, but the Pacers had different plans, delivering a statement win over the Denver Nuggets in a thrilling 124-118 victory.
Nikola Jokić, as usual, was phenomenal. The reigning two-time MVP put together one of the most impressive performances of his career, recording a 32-point, 15-rebound, 14-assist triple-double. It was a stat line only a handful of players in NBA history could dream of achieving—let alone on the level Jokić has set. With his effortless passing, scoring, and rebounding, the Nuggets’ big man did everything in his power to carry his team. But despite his near-mythical stat line, Jokić and the Nuggets came up short when it mattered most.
For much of the game, it looked like the Nuggets would get the win. Jokić was dominant, and the Pacers seemed outmatched. But, as the game progressed, Indiana refused to back down. The Pacers leaned on their fast-paced offense and aggressive defense, and Myles Turner emerged as the focal point of the evening—stepping up with a defensive performance that would haunt Jokić’s memory for days to come.
Turner, known for his shot-blocking and elite defensive presence, was everywhere on the floor. He finished the game with 5 blocks and 14 points, but his most important contribution came in the fourth quarter. With the game on the line and the Nuggets threatening to pull away, Turner made several crucial defensive stops, including an incredible rejection on a Jokić attempt at the rim. That block was a momentum-changer, and from that point on, the Pacers dominated the final minutes of the game.
What was even more impressive was how Turner didn’t just shut down Jokić defensively, but how he impacted the entire game. He wasn’t just a shot-blocker—Turner was a force on the boards, grabbing key rebounds when the Nuggets needed them most. His presence in the paint stifled Denver’s offense, forcing them into difficult, contested shots down the stretch.
But Turner wasn’t alone. Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers’ young star, played one of his best games of the season, contributing 25 points and 9 assists while maintaining his trademark poise. Haliburton’s ability to orchestrate Indiana’s offense in clutch moments was key, as he hit several timely threes and dished out perfect passes to his teammates, including a huge assist to Turner for a dunk that sealed the win with under a minute remaining.
Despite Jokić’s brilliance, the Nuggets couldn’t recover from the Pacers’ late-game surge. Jokić, visibly frustrated, tried to will his team back into it, but the Pacers’ defense was stifling. Even with Jamal Murray’s 20 points and Michael Porter Jr.’s solid shooting, the Nuggets couldn’t keep up with the Pacers’ intensity and execution in crunch time.
After the game, Jokić spoke candidly about the loss:
“It was a great individual performance, but at the end of the day, basketball is a team game. I didn’t do enough to help my teammates in the final minutes,” he said. “Myles Turner was incredible tonight, and we didn’t execute the way we should’ve in the clutch.”
Meanwhile, Turner couldn’t hide his smile in the postgame presser:
“It feels good to be able to help my team in that way. Jokic is one of the best in the world, but we had a game plan, and we stuck to it. We just played together, and it worked.”
For the Pacers, this win was a massive confidence booster. They’ve been fighting for a playoff spot all season, and defeating the Nuggets on the road—especially with Jokić putting up a triple-double—was a statement. Turner’s defense was a reminder that, even in the era of high-scoring, offensive-driven basketball, defense still wins games.
So, while Jokić’s triple-double will surely make highlight reels across the league, the Pacers can walk away from this game with the ultimate reward: a victory that put the league on notice. Myles Turner and Indiana ruined Nikola Jokić’s historic night, and they did it with defense, grit, and heart.
