The Denver Nuggets, riding a scorching seven-game road winning streak, invade Gainbridge Fieldhouse to face a reeling Indiana Pacers squad desperate for a spark amid a brutal start to the season. With Nikola Jokic’s triple-double mastery anchoring Denver’s elite offense, this matchup tests Indiana’s depleted backcourt against the Nuggets’ relentless pace. The Pacers, plagued by injuries including a season-ending blow to their star point guard, aim to leverage home energy, but Denver’s depth could extend Indiana’s slide in the standings.
Game Details
Tipoff: 7:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana (home of the Pacers; capacity ~18,000; features a vibrant downtown atmosphere but has seen sparse crowds during Indiana’s slump)
Broadcast: FanDuel Sports Network Indiana (FDSIN), Altitude TV (ALT); streaming available on NBA League Pass
Team Records
| Team | Overall Record | Home/Road Split | Division Standing |
| Denver Nuggets | 14-6 | 6-4 / 8-2 | 2nd in Northwest |
| Indiana Pacers | 4-17 | 3-8 / 1-9 | 14th in Central |
Denver sits just six games behind Northwest leader Oklahoma City, while the Pacers languish 12.5 games out in their division, firmly in the lottery conversation.
Recent Team Forms
Denver’s road dominance contrasts sharply with Indiana’s inconsistency, though both enter off losses. The Nuggets boast the league’s third-best road net rating (+8.2), while the Pacers rank 28th overall in defensive efficiency (117.0 allowed).
Denver Nuggets (6-4 in last 10; L1 streak):
The Nuggets fell 131-121 to Dallas on Monday despite Jokic’s 29-20-13 line, but their last 10 games show offensive firepower (124.6 PPG) tempered by occasional defensive lapses (115.9 allowed). Wins include a 130-112 rout at Phoenix (Nov. 29) and 125-115 at Memphis (Nov. 24), highlighting transition efficiency (29.9 assists per game). They’re 8-2 on the road, with a +4.2 net rating over the last 10. Key stat: Denver ranks 4th in offensive rating (124.6).
Indiana Pacers (3-7 in last 10; L1 streak):
Indiana dropped 135-119 to Cleveland on Monday, extending defensive woes (119.4 allowed PPG). Bright spots include a 103-101 grinder over Chicago (Nov. 29) and a 119-86 blowout of Washington (Nov. 28), but losses like 122-117 to Detroit (Nov. 24) expose turnover issues (14.8 per game). They’re 3-7 in the last 10, averaging 110.2 PPG while yielding 119.4. Key stat: Pacers rank 30th in three-point percentage (31.7%).
Injury Report
Injuries hit both sides hard, but Indiana’s backcourt devastation—led by Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles tear—looms largest. Denver’s stars are trending playable, bolstering their edge.
Denver Nuggets:
| Player | Position | Status | Estimated Return | Notes |
| Jamal Murray | G | Questionable | N/A | Right ankle sprain |
| Nikola Jokic | C | Probable | N/A | Left wrist sprain |
| Aaron Gordon | F | Out | Jan. 2 | Hamstring strain |
| Christian Braun | G/F | Out | TBD | Left ankle sprain |
| Julian Strawther | G | Out | Dec. 11 | Back contusion |
| Tamar Bates | G | Out | TBD | G League two-way assignment |
| DaRon Holmes II | F | Out | TBD | Knee injury recovery |
Murray’s status is the biggest swing factor; he’s averaged 23.3 PPG when active.
Indiana Pacers:
| Player | Position | Status | Estimated Return | Notes |
| Johnny Furphy | F | Questionable | N/A | Left ankle sprain |
| Tyrese Haliburton | G | Out | Season-ending | Achilles rupture |
| Quenton Jackson | G | Out | Dec. 8 | Knee injury |
| Obi Toppin | F | Out | Dec. 8 | Foot sprain |
| Aaron Nesmith | G/F | Out | Dec. 18 | Shoulder strain |
| Kam Jones | G | Out | Feb. 2 | Back injury |
Haliburton’s absence craters Indiana’s playmaking (they rank 27th in assists without him).
Key Player Matchups
Denver’s interior dominance clashes with Indiana’s makeshift frontcourt, while the Nuggets’ wings exploit the Pacers’ perimeter vulnerabilities.
Nikola Jokic (DEN, 29.0 PPG, 12.8 RPG, 11.1 APG) vs. Pascal Siakam (IND, ~22 PPG): Jokic’s passing wizardry (triple-doubles in 60% of games) overwhelms Siakam, who must anchor without Toppin. Jokic averages 28.5 vs. IND last 3. Edge: Jokic.
Jamal Murray (DEN, 23.3 PPG, 6.7 APG) vs. Bennedict Mathurin (IND, ~20 PPG): If Murray plays, his mid-range pull-ups feast on Mathurin’s on-ball defense (1.1 SPG but foul-prone). Mathurin steps up sans Haliburton but lacks creation. Edge: Murray.
Michael Porter Jr. (DEN, 18.5 PPG) vs. Jarace Walker (IND, 15.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG): Porter’s spacing (40% from three) pulls Walker out of the paint, exposing Indiana’s rebounding (44.8 RPG, 25th). Edge: Porter Jr.
Other watches: Cameron Johnson (DEN) vs. Indiana’s bench; Siakam’s versatility in transition.
Series History
Denver holds a slight all-time edge (56-47 regular season), but recent tilts favor the Nuggets decisively. They’ve won 7 of the last 10 meetings, including a 117-100 rout on Nov. 8, 2025, at home (Jokic: 32-15-8). Indiana’s last win was a 125-120 thriller on Apr. 6, 2025, at Denver. In Indianapolis, Denver is 4-3 over the last seven. Average score in last 10: Nuggets 115.4, Pacers 108.2. The Nuggets are 6-1 SU in their last seven road games vs. Indiana.
Betting Trends
Denver opens as moderate road favorites, with public action heavy on the Nuggets amid Indiana’s woes. The total reflects Denver’s scoring punch but Indiana’s defensive regression.
| Trends |
| DEN 8-2 SU on road; IND 1-9 SU on road. Public 68% on DEN. |
| DEN 12-8 ATS overall (7-3 as road favs); IND 11-10 ATS (6-4 as dogs). |
| DEN 9-11 O/U (avg total 240.5); IND 8-13 (avg 229.6). 6-4 O in last 10 H2H. |
Additional trends: Nuggets 5-5 ATS in last 10; Pacers 4-1 ATS in last 5 home games but 2-8 SU overall.
Game Odds
Denver Nuggets – 7.5
Indiana Pacers 235.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Tuesday, December 2, 2025
