Denver will have to make serious roster cuts during the transfer window if they want to avoid wasting another year of the best basketball player in the world, Nikola Jokić. Despite a masterful performance and scoring 41 points last night, Jokić’s effort wasn’t enough to defeat an average San Antonio team, even at home, with a final score of 110-113.
The Serbian national team player fought as much as he could, but in the decisive final possession, he ran out of energy and threw the ball straight into Vassell’s hands, who ended all hopes for the Nuggets.
Jokić wore himself out in the battle with Wembanyama, and vice versa, but in the end, the Spurs’ deeper bench made the difference. Another decisive factor was Denver’s defensive weakness in the paint, which Nikola alone couldn’t cover.
On the other side, the great French prospect managed to stretch the Nuggets’ defense and hit several long-range threes from 8 to 9 meters, finishing the game with 35 points, 18 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks, with an excellent shooting percentage (14 of 22).
Jokić scored more points but with a slightly lower percentage, ending with 41 points and 18 rebounds, just one assist shy of a triple-double (9 assists).
In the defeated Nuggets team, Porter stood out slightly more with 22 points, while Murray, as has been the case recently, failed to deliver when it mattered most, scoring only 14 points and adding 7 assists. The only player who truly fought alongside Jokić was veteran Russell Westbrook, who, in addition to 9 points, contributed 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals.
In the Spurs’ team, now successfully led by young coach Mitch Johnson after Gregg Popovich’s health issues, Vassell also stood out with 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists, while Johnson and Champagnie added 16 and 15 points, respectively.
The Nuggets’ three-game winning streak has come to an end, leaving them with a 19-14 record and in 4th place in the Western Conference, while San Antonio, now 18-16, holds the 8th spot.
Text: Antonije Kovačević Photo: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images