LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Jamal Murray poured in 52 points to propel Denver to a 135-120 National Basketball Association (NBA) victory over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday as the Nuggets continued to thrive on the road.
Denver, loser of its last four home games, has now won eight in a row on the road.
Murray, who was questionable to start after spraining his right ankle on Monday, was lethal from three-point range.
He connected on 10 of 11 from beyond the arc and made 19 of his 25 attempts overall in his fifth career 50-point game, including two in the playoffs.
“I hope people understand, it’s not the 52 points, it’s the 19 of 25, 10 for 11 from three, four for five from the free throw line. That is insane efficiency,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said.
“It’s, I’m guessing, one of the most efficient 50-point games of all time.”
Nikola Jokic added 24 points, eight rebounds and 13 assists for the Nuggets, who closed the second quarter on a 22-3 scoring run and never looked back despite a tenacious effort from the Pacers, who have struggled amid a rash of injuries after reaching last season’s NBA Finals.
The Milwaukee Bucks shook off the early exit of two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo, erasing an early 18-point deficit to beat the Detroit Pistons 113-109.