After a strong start, the Indiana Pacers went out with a whimper defensively against the Denver Nuggets, who reached 30 points or more in each of the final three quarters. In the most simplified scouting report ever, the Pacers needed only to hold the Nuggets under 110 points to maximize their chance of winning.
Entering the game, the Nuggets had gone 11-0 when scoring 110 or more in their last 19. When scoring less? They’re 1-7. The inability for the Pacers to tighten up defensively in not only forcing misses, but grabbing rebounds allowed Denver to break the 110-point threshold with ease, scoring 124, the most points the Pacers have allowed all year.