Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama delivered a great exchange of blows, with the Denver Nuggets ultimately prevailing 136-134 after overtime against the San Antonio Spurs in a high-class game.
What a thriller between two of the best players and teams in the NBA. The Nuggets trailed for almost the entire game but came out on top in the end. Aaron Gordon forced overtime with a dunk, where the Nuggets’ experience prevailed. Among other things, the visitors gambled away a three-on-one situation to equalize, while Nikola Jokic made everything clear with a floater at the other end.
The Serbian was the outstanding player with 40 points (13/25 FG), eight rebounds, 13 assists (0 turnovers) and three blocks, although Victor Wembanyama was in no way inferior to him with 34 points (8/16 FG, 16/17 FT), 18 rebounds, seven assists and five blocks. However, the Frenchman was unable to deliver in the decisive moments. Christian Braun (21, 5/11 threes) and Cam Johnson (17) helped the Nuggets, while Stephon Castle (20, 9 assists)
also impressed for San Antonio
Jokic bleeds after collision with Wemby
From the start, it was a shootout between the two teams, who had difficulties defending each other. San Antonio had already hit seven threes and scored 43 points after one quarter, but the visitors were still unable to pull away. Jokic picked up two quick fouls on Wemby and the Frenchman certainly had problems one-on-one against the burly Serbian.
It was not until the second quarter that Wembanyama managed to block Jokic twice on the hook shot, but the Serbian had already scored 20 points by the break. He also suffered a bloody nose after Wemby unintentionally hit him in the face. Denver called for the third foul, but there were only two technical fouls against Aaron Gordon and coach David Adelman. San Antonio led 72-65 at the break, Wembanyama (15 and 11) already had a double-double.
After the changeover, the Nuggets quickly cut the deficit to one point, but were unable to take the lead. Instead, Julian Champagnie (18, 6/9 threes) and Wemby hit threes and quickly took a double-digit lead again. Only with Wembanyama on the bench did the Nuggets get close again, as Jokic found the open shooters. The visitors went into the final period with a 96:92 lead.
Gordon saves the Nuggets in overtime
The center now went to the bench – and the Spurs exploited that mercilessly through Wembanyama. The lead grew again (107:96), but Jokic and Jamal Murray (15, 10 assists) brought the home side back into contention. With just over 3:30 minutes remaining, the Nuggets even took the lead for the first time since the first quarter thanks to a Murray three. Devin Vassell countered that with five points in a row, Denver had to chase again and a four-point play by Cam Johnson (17) made it exciting once more.
De’Aaron Fox only produced one airball and so Aaron Gordon (15) was able to equalize after a pass from Jokic with six seconds left on the clock. The Spurs then failed to get a decent shot off, meaning the game had to be decided in overtime.
Denver kept the upper hand there and inflicted another defeat on San Antonio. The latter had previously won eleven games in a row, but remain second in the West. The two teams will meet again on the final matchday, with the Nuggets having won two of the three duels.
