The word of the night was not “worry.” The emotions of the night rarely strayed from satisfied and content.
There wasn’t much suspense in the Nuggets’ game against the Indiana Pacers on Friday night, and that wasn’t a problem for the Nuggets or anyone watching at the Pepsi Center.
Denver cruised to a 122-114 victory over the Pacers, getting a comfortable win against an inferior opponent, which has been all too rare this season. It was the kind of night where starters could sit back and relax in the fourth quarter and reserves could get some much-needed court time. It was just what the doctor ordered for a Nuggets team that is banged up and could use extra downtime.
“I think the film will show it was a solid win but wasn’t anything special,” Nuggets coach George Karl said. “I think we’re going to have to play a lot better against Portland on Sunday.”
Yet it was a very necessary win in a month in which home games are to be cherished, because 10 of the Nuggets’ 16 games in March are on the road.
This homestand has been about putting the Lakers and Suns games last weekend in the rearview mirror. To that end, the first two games of the three-game home swing have gone as planned. The Nuggets followed up an inspired win over Oklahoma City with a workmanlike, if not spectacular, win over the Pacers.
It was the Nuggets’ second straight, and their third straight at the Pepsi Center.
Energy was in demand on a sleepy night in front of an eyes-glazed-over crowd. The Nuggets jumped on the Pacers early and never really let up. They led after every quarter and shot a hearty 47 percent for the game.
Contributions came from everywhere. Carmelo Anthony led the way with 34 points on 12-of-20 shooting. He was one of six Nuggets in double figures. J.R. Smith started hot, cooled off considerably but still finished with 20 points. Smith led the team in assists with eight.
The Nuggets’ bench outscored Indiana’s 48-37, highlighted by Chris Andersen’s 13 points. He also had 10 rebounds and three blocks.
“I thought (Anthony Carter) and J.R.’s passing was great, and Chris was very active,” Karl said. “I would give this game to the bench. It’s the second game in a row it seems the bench has had a teamness to it.”
All of this on a night in which guard Chauncey Billups suffered through cold shooting and needed an IV afterward to quell some of the effects of a cold virus. Billups hit just 3-of-13 shots, 1-of-6 from the 3-point line and finished with 14 points, six rebounds and two assists.
Stopping Pacers forward Danny Granger was a priority after the Nuggets limited Oklahoma City’s big-time scorer, Kevin Durant, to 19 points Wednesday. And, well, they didn’t get that done. Granger scored 32 points on 10-of-21 shooting.
But his production was of no consequence. The Nuggets bottled up the Pacers all night, limiting them to 43 percent from the field.
“It was an ugly game,” Billups said. “The style they play is kind of Golden State-ish. It’s just kind of tough. Games like that you’ve just got to get out the best way you can. That’s kind of what we did.”
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
