INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The Denver Nuggets looked an awful lot like last season's squad, which means at times they looked awful.
Suffering through quarters of 10 and seven points, the Nuggets recalled their 65-loss season in a 71-60 loss to the Indiana Pacers, who got 25 points and 20 rebounds from Jermaine O'Neal.
The Nuggets averaged a league-low 84.2 points per game last season as they began a rebuilding project that resulted in the selection of Carmelo Anthony with the third overall pick in the draft.
With Anthony showing early flashes of greatness and free agents Andre Miller and Earl Boykins providing a boost, Denver won two of its first three games, beating San Antonio and Sacramento. But the Nuggets took a step back against the Pacers.
"There's a fine line with us," Nuggets coach Jeff Bzdelik said. "If we're not running hard and cutting hard and loosening up the defense, making them chase us, then we can really struggle offensively. Yeah, it did look like last season a little."
In the first quarter, the Nuggets dug themselves an 18-10 hole by making just 4-of-22 shots and committing seven turnovers. The third quarter was even worse as they made just 2-of-20 shots - missed 14 straight at one point - and managed seven points.
After three quarters, the 5-5 Boykins was 7-of-7 for 18 points. His teammates were 7-of-50 for 23 points.
"I've never been a part of any game like this," said Boykins, who missed his last four shots. "But you have nights like this."
Trailing 60-41 entering the fourth quarter, Denver again recalled last season's squad by hustling and scrapping its way back into the game.
A thunderous follow dunk by Chris Andersen cut the deficit to 62-58 with 5:13 remaining. But O'Neal scored six straight points, and the Nuggets made just one basket the rest of the way.
Overall, the Nuggets shot just 29 percent (23-of-79). Anthony was 1-of-13 and sat for virtually the entire second half. Marcus Camby was 1-of-11 and fellow starter Voshon Lenard was 0-of-6.
"I don't think I have ever had a night like that," said Anthony, who may have been looking ahead to Wednesday's matchup with highly touted fellow rookie LeBron James in Cleveland.
"It's just one game," Camby said. "We're concerned but not that concerned. We just need to get one tomorrow."
Denver has lost 39 of its last 43 road games. It also has lost nine consecutive visits here.
The Pacers didn't shoot much better at 35.5 percent (27-of-76). But O'Neal was 10-of-18 and dominated both backboards with seven offensive rebounds and three blocks. "Jermaine O'Neal played a spectacular game," Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said. "Every big shot, every big rebound, he was the key guy."
"I must play well each and every game and try to take my game to the next level," O'Neal said. "Not for an individual accomplishment, but to help this team go to the next level and move in the direction of a championship. That is and always will be my first goal."
Whatever was bothering the Nuggets in the first period afflicted the Pacers in the second quarter. They missed their first seven shots and saw their lead dwindle to 24-22 before O'Neal sank a lane jumper at the 6:13 mark.
Camby's basket just under three minutes into the second quarter made it 44-38, but Denver did not score again from the field until Boykins leaked out for a layup in the closing seconds. It was the best defensive quarter in Pacers history.
"The game wasn't much on the beauty scale, but for intensity and pulling out the win, I give our guys high marks," Carlisle said. "We're showing some signs of consistency with our intensity, and that's got to be one of the building blocks for our team."
