DENVER (AP) — Put this one on Nikola Jokic after Victor Wembanyama nearly beat the player who hopes to soon clinch his third MVP award.
Jokic scored 42 points and outscored the Rookie of the Year favorite in Denver’s 110-105 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night to regain sole possession of first place in the West.
Jokic also grabbed 16 rebounds and had six assists. Wembanyama had 23 points, 15 rebounds, eight assists and nine blocks. Three of Jokic’s baskets came on rare dunks, something he said he had to deal with when facing the sensational rookie.
“He had about 600 blocks tonight, but we got the win,” Jokic said after Denver moved ahead of Oklahoma City atop the Western Conference playoff race.
The Nuggets (53-23) took a half-game lead over Oklahoma City, which lost 109-105 at Philadelphia earlier Tuesday night. The Minnesota Timberwolves (52-23) kept pace with Oklahoma City by beating Houston 113-106.
Jokic’s hook shot broke the tie 103-103, but Wembanyama’s layup at the other end tied the score with a minute remaining.
Michael Porter Jr., who had 15 points and a career-high 16 rebounds, made a 3 with 28 seconds left to give Denver a 108-105 lead and Wembanyama missed a 3-pointer with 18 seconds left. end, but Spurs burned 10 seconds before Wembanyama. committed a foul on Jokic, who sank both free throws with 8 seconds remaining.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said he couldn’t be happier with the way Wembanyama led his team to a near upset of the defending NBA champions despite missing several starters wounded.
“It’s one of the most competitive matches I’ve been a part of in many years,” Popovich said. “For 48 minutes, in difficult circumstances, these guys just played… the effort for 48 minutes was really impressive, the best I’ve seen all year. And like I said (since ) many years losing sucks, but seeing how far they’ve come this season is truly a joy.
Wembanyama was exhausted after trying to keep up with Jokic and spending a difficult 34 minutes in the Denver air.
“It’s very demanding” to face Jokic, Wembanyama said, adding that the altitude was “just one difficulty among others.” We must adapt to this, just as we must adapt to many other factors.
Like Jokic who made 18 shots, twice as many as Wembanyama.
Although the Spurs were missing Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan and Keldon Johnson, all dealing with foot injuries, San Antonio was no pushover for the Nuggets, who were without point guard Jamal Murray (knee) for a sixth game consecutive.
The Spurs got double-digit scoring from seven players, including Malaki Branham, who scored 24, and Tre Jones had his third career triple-double (10 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists).
Hounded by Aaron Gordon, Denver’s best defender, Wembanyama missed 20 shots, but more than made up for it with all his passing and defense.
Wembanyama is making progress in many areas as he approaches his first go-round in the NBA, and the Nuggets say it’s scary to think how good he’ll be one day.
“He’s going to be really, really, really, really, really, really good,” Gordon said.
Jokic said Wembanyama had a good mix of humility, work ethic and hunger “and it’s a very good combination.”
Jokic said he had to adjust his game against Wembanyama, changing the arc of his shots and getting extra space in the post against the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama, who is tied with Boban Marjanović as a player NBA’s largest asset.
“Of course I didn’t do a good job today. He blocked six, seven shots,” Jokic said. “But he’s a special player and you always have to do special things to score against these guys. But I think when he learns and he understands, he will pose an even bigger problem.
Popovich, for his part, is looking forward to more Wemby vs. Joker matchups to come, starting with a rematch in San Antonio on April 12.
“Well definitely. Victor earned a lot of respect tonight because Nikola is the best,” Popovich said. “For Victor to want to keep him and learn, that was a real testament to how good he wants to be. Nikola, as I said, shows a lot of things. And he learns from minute to minute.
FOLLOWING
Spurs: At the New Orleans Pelicans Friday night.
Nuggets: At the Los Angeles Clippers Thursday night.
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