Defending champion Denver (47-20) leveraged a 17-2 run within the first quarter and 18-5 push spanning the third and fourth quarters to place San Antonio (14-53) in a rut it couldn’t escape from. The Nuggets weathered a number of runs from the Spurs within the second and third durations to say a formidable 117-106 highway win in Austin, Texas, and keep toe-to-toe with Oklahoma Metropolis for the highest seed.
Main MVP candidate Nikola Jokic (31 factors, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists) shined brightest of the gamers tonight and was bolstered by Jamal Murray (15 factors, 9 rebounds, and seven assists) and Michael Porter Jr. (13 factors and seven assists). Justin Holliday (13 factors), Christian Braun (13 factors and a couple of steals), and Peyton Watson (10 factors) contributed strong bench play for the Nuggets.
Rookie Victor Wembanyama (17 factors, 9 rebounds, and three blocks) labored by way of a sluggish begin to tempo 4 Spurs in double-digit scoring, whereas Jeremy Sochan (19 factors, 6 rebounds, 4 assists), Devin Vassell (17 factors), and Zach Collins (13 factors and 6 rebounds) provided the majority of the opposite scoring in defeat.
In a dominant opening body, Denver’s tall and proficient frontline made life tough for San Antonio on each ends. Jokic, Porter Jr., and Gordon obtained to any shot that they needed with the intention to rating the staff’s first 24 factors. The Spurs relied on their exterior taking pictures to maintain tempo, however light midway by way of the interval. The Nuggets leveraged 65+% area aim share on a dizzying array of paint buckets, whereas holding the Spurs to below 25% taking pictures, to surge forward 37-18 after one.
Within the second quarter, Denver’s taking pictures reverted again to an inexpensive imply, however their bench, behind Christian Braun, Zeke Nnaji, and Reggie Jackson, continued to use strain. Whereas the Spurs steadied themselves behind their bigs – Wembanyama, Dominick Barlow, and Zach Collins – they weren’t capable of dent the Nuggets benefit. As soon as San Antonio’s efffort began to match and typically exceed Denver’s ranges, they discovered the mandatory scoring to shave into the lead and go into the half down 9.
Sochan and Vassell carried the offensive torch for San Antonio to start out the third, whereas Jokic confirmed off his deft world-class contact in and across the paint and was intent to place away the much less skilled opponent and garner his fellow starters some relaxation. Nevertheless, Barlow and Collins impressed with their aggression and hustle, whereas Johnson’s heady forays to the basket helped the Spurs chew into the Nuggets’ lead. Although the Spurs obtained inside two possessions late within the body, a late three made it a 7-point sport heading into the fourth.
Observations
Sean Elliott famous “It’s onerous to recollect any dangerous shot that Denver has taken” within the waning minutes, and effectively, onerous to argue with that.
The bottom-bound Jokic appeared to steal the opening tip, and Wembanyama responded by turning his shot away on the rim seconds later. It’s the little issues.
Invoice Simmons introduced visitors Joe Home and Wosny Lambre onto his BS Podcast to ‘draft’ the highest worst contracts within the NBA as we speak. Johnson surprisingly was drafted by Simmons. Unsurprisingly, Kawhi Leonard’s contract additionally made it onto the doubtful checklist.
As soon as Wembanyama figures out the timing and tempo of those Western Convention frontcourt gamers (Sabonis, Davis, Jokic, and so on.), his block, steal, and deflection totals will skyrocket. He was persistently off on contesting Jokic’s quite a few dekes, feints, and ball-fakes.
Sequence of the Sport: Late within the first half, Wembanyama stripped a complacent Jokic within the paint, and Tre Jones discovered an open Champagnie for a transition three.
Considering forward (and with glass half full), with hovering season ticket costs, the annual Rodeo Street Journey, and this slate of late-season video games in Austin, it may make it harder to mount a significant dwelling courtroom benefit in future playoff pushes.
Denver caught San Antonio napping from the onset, and netted their first seven factors on the rim. Julian Champagnie’s two threes saved the Spurs on the Nuggets’ heels regardless of Wembanyama placing up a goose egg from the sector. The Nuggets sadly turned on the jets with crisp Lovely-game period execution, whereas ratcheting up the strain on protection. After two Blake Wesley free throws, Denver ran an ideal fast-break drill for a hovering alley-oop and exited the primary up 37-18.
Dominick Barlow paired a tip-in and bankshot to start out the second and the staff benefitted from his motor. To indicate the stark distinction within the groups’ efforts, after Wembanyama blocked away Christian Braun’s try, Zeke Nnaji wrested away the unfastened ball and kicked it out to an open Braun from three. Whereas Wembanyama began to seek out his manner on offense, the Nuggets had been content material to commerce baskets. Wesley’s aggression and Vassell’s shotmaking helped the Spurs mount their first severe push late within the half and so they went into the break down 49-58.
A landing’s price of factors from Jeremy Sochan appeared to portend an awesome begin for San Antonio within the third. A Vassell jumper introduced the Spurs inside 5, however the staff didn’t get any nearer, as Jokic determined to take the sport into his personal appreciable palms. A pair of buckets from Johnson and Collins every did draw the Spurs nearer, however the Nuggets transformed a buzzer-beating three to go to the fourth up 86-79.
Jamal Murray awakened from a game-long slumber with a flurry of buckets to assist Denver prolong its benefit and finish any comeback hopes for San Antonio.
San Antonio stays in Austin and takes on Mikal Bridges and the Brooklyn Nets Sunday night at 6:00 PM CDT.
