INDIANAPOLIS -- Carmelo Anthony got a little help from his teammates to lift Denver to its best start in 24 years.

Anthony scored 25 points and Chauncey Billups added 24 as the Nuggets beat the Indiana Pacers 111-93 on Tuesday night to improve to 4-0. Nene had 16 points and 13 rebounds and reserve Arron Afflalo added points 15 for the Nuggets.

"Everybody stepped up tonight," said Anthony, who was averaging a league-best 38 points coming into the game. He was just 6-for-17 from the field, but made up for it by making 11 of 14 free throws.

The Nuggets say they have carried momentum from reaching the Western Conference finals last season.

"We should feel good, we shouldn`t feel no other way," Anthony said. "It seems like

Pacers forward Danny Granger (33) is fouled by Denver's Chris Andersen as he goes up for a shot during the third quarter Tuesday. ( Darron Cummings )
we`re picking up where we left off from last year."

Former Denver guard Dahntay Jones led the Pacers (0-3) with 20 points. He made perhaps the strongest statements after the loss, Indiana`s third straight by double digits.

"It`s very tough to take three losses in a row like this," he said. "We`re sick and tired of losing."

Danny Granger scored points 18 on 6 of 16 shooting and Roy Hibbert added 14 points and 12 rebounds for Indiana.

Pacers forward Troy Murphy bruised his lower back when he fell hard to the floor in the first quarter and did not return. He was second in the league in rebounding and third in 3-point percentage last season.

"It`s kind of stiffened up," he said while sitting in front of his locker. "It`s not the most comfortable thing right now, but hopefully, it will feel better tomorrow and I`ll be able to go."

Denver made 8 of 15 3-pointers on Tuesday while Indiana made just 3 of 22.

"We had a good defensive feel for the game all night long," Denver coach George Karl said. "Any time you win a game on the road and keep it in double digits, you`re doing a lot of good things."

Denver`s players said it was important to get a win at the beginning of their six-game road trip, and they felt getting off to a good start would be the key. The Nuggets led 30-13 at the end of the first quarter, even though Anthony shot 1-for-7.

Indiana shot 22 percent in the opening period.

"The first quarter, we didn`t make shots that we`ve made the past couple of years," Indiana coach Jim O`Brien said. "You can`t shoot poorly and dig yourself out of a 20-point hole in the first quarter."

"We have a real good aura, a real good feel about what we can be as a team this year," Billups said.

Nuggets 111, Pacers 93 DENVER (111)

Anthony 6-17 11-14 25, Martin 2-7 0-0 4, Nene 4-10 8-11 16, Billups 7-15 5-6 24, Carter 2-6 0-0 4, Andersen 3-6 0-0 6, Afflalo 6-10 2-2 15, Lawson 1-3 2-2 4, Graham 2-4 5-6 9, Allen 2-4 0-0 4, Balkman 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 35-82 33-41 111.

INDIANA (93)

Granger 6-16 4-6 18, Murphy 0-4 0-0 0, Hibbert 6-11 2-2 14, Ford 4-7 5-6 13, Rush 4-12 0-0 8, S.Jones 2-8 1-2 5, D.Jones 8-15 4-6 20, Watson 1-4 0-0 2, Head 3-8 2-2 8, McRoberts 1-4 0-0 2, Price 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 36-91 18-24 93.

Denver 30 25 28 28--111

Indiana 13 26 32 22-- 93

3-Point Goals--Denver 8-15 (Billups 5-7, Anthony 2-4, Afflalo 1-2, Carter 0-2), Indiana 3-22 (Granger 2-10, Price 1-2, D.Jones 0-1, McRoberts 0-1, Head 0-2, Murphy 0-2, Rush 0-4). Fouled Out--Ford. Rebounds--Denver 65 (Nene 13), Indiana 51 (Hibbert 12). Assists--Denver 18 (Carter 5), Indiana 13 (Head 3). Total Fouls--Denver 19, Indiana 28. A--10,627 (18,165).