AP

INDIANAPOLIS — Nikola Jokic had 31 points, 17 rebounds and a big 3-pointer to turn back a late Indiana rally, and the Denver Nuggets beat the Pacers 125-117 on Friday night.

Wilson Chandler scored 12 of his 24 points in the opening quarter, and Danilo Gallinari added 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Nuggets.

Jokic had 21 points and 12 rebounds by halftime, helping Denver open an 11-point lead, but Indiana staged a furious rally in the final minutes to trim a 23-point deficit to five before Jokic's 3-pointer with 1:28 remaining.

All-Star forward Paul George scored 27 points for Indiana, while Jeff Teague had 21 and Myles Turner added 20.

Denver made 40-of-43 free throws compared to Indiana's eight of 11.

The Nuggets (35-37) have won nine of 13 against the Pacers (36-36) in Indiana and have a 20-4 edge in the series since 2004-05. That includes a season sweep this season. Denver routed Indiana 140-112 on Jan. 12 in London.

TIP-INS

Nuggets: Since two-time All-Star center Roy Hibbert was traded by the Pacers to the Lakers in 2015, he's bounced around the league from Los Angeles to Charlotte to Milwaukee and now Denver. He did not play for a fifth consecutive game, per coach's decision. . Indianapolis native Gary Harris, a 2012 Indiana Mr. Basketball from Hamilton Southeastern High School, had 10 points as a reserve guard.

Pacers: Guard Monta Ellis had 17 points off the bench, two shy of his season high. . Forward Glenn Robinson III, the NBA's reigning dunk champion, sat out with a sore left calf. . Indiana is 8-25 when trailing at halftime.

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LONDON RE-RUN

The Nuggets' 28-point win over the Pacers in London was the largest margin of victory for Denver against Indiana. The Nuggets led 67-56 at the half. On Friday, Denver led 64-53 at halftime. The Nuggets' season high for points scored in a first half is 79 against Golden State on Feb. 13.

END OF TREND

The Pacers' 15-game stretch of mediocrity in which they lost a game and then won a game came to an end with their second consecutive loss. Before this recent up-and-down trend, the Pacers had lost six consecutive games after enjoying a seven-game win streak.

UP NEXT

Nuggets: Host the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday.

Pacers: Host the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.