The Denver Nuggets improved to 7-2 on the season with Saturday night's 117-100 victory over the Indiana Pacers at Ball Arena, but star center Nikola Jokic kept expectations in check when asked about the team's development.

Despite the convincing win, Jokic provided a realistic view of Denver's trajectory early in the 2025-26 campaign.

"I would not say it's rapid, but I think there is progress," Jokic said postgame. "We've been better. I think it's more defensively than offensively. So, there is probably but I'm not going to say rapidly. It shouldn't be rapidly."

The three-time MVP's comments reflect a veteran perspective on team building and chemistry, suggesting that sustainable success requires steady improvement rather than dramatic leaps. His emphasis on defensive growth is particularly notable for a team that finished 22nd in defensive rating last season at 116.0.

Jokic backed up his measured words with another stellar performance, recording his sixth triple-double in nine games this season with 32 points, 14 rebounds, and 14 assists.

The Serbian big man is now averaging 24.4 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 11.6 assists per game while shooting a remarkable 63.6% from the field.

The Nuggets overcame significant absences against Indiana, playing without guards Jamal Murray (left calf tightness) and forward Aaron Gordon (left hamstring).

Murray, Denver's second-leading scorer at 22.8 points per game, and Gordon, averaging a career-best 20.1 points per contest, both sat out the back-to-back after Friday's NBA Cup victory over Golden State.

With their top supporting cast sidelined, the Nuggets received crucial contributions from their depth. Tim Hardaway Jr.provided 17 points off the bench, continuing his strong play as Denver's offensive spark in reserve.

Jalen Pickett started in place of Murray, recording 2 points in 17 minutes, while Peyton Watson posted a season-high 16 points in Gordon's absence.

The shorthanded Nuggets built a 19-point lead in the second quarter before Indiana mounted a comeback to close within 56-47 at halftime.

Denver's ability to maintain composure and extend the lead in the fourth quarter demonstrated the mental toughness Jokic referenced when discussing the team's progress.

The Nuggets now face a demanding stretch with three road games in their next four contests. Denver travels to Sacramento on Tuesday to face the Kings, then heads to Los Angeles for a Wednesday matchup with the Clippers before visiting Minnesota on Saturday.

The team returns home to host Chicago on Monday, November 17, then embarks on another road swing that includes stops in New Orleans and Houston.

Denver's early season schedule features heavy travel, with the team set to play five of six games away from Ball Arena during this stretch.

How the Nuggets navigate this tough period will provide a clearer picture of the progress Jokic described. With the Western Conference standings tightly bunched, maintaining their current momentum could prove crucial to Denver's playoff positioning as the season progresses.