The eighth in a row, but definitely the most valuable victory for the Denver Nuggets, against a great rival and after overtime! San Antonio fell in the “Ball Arena” with a score of 136:134, and the one most responsible for that was the only true MVP – Nikola Jokić!
Denver reached its 50th victory of the season, ending the guests’ streak of 11 consecutive triumphs along the way. Most importantly, the Nuggets remained in the race for 3rd place, for which they are fighting with the Lakers and trail by only one triumph.
The game began in the sign of Devin Vassell. The Spurs player hit three three-pointers, and with the support of Wembanyama, San Antonio took a 17:10 lead in the first few minutes. Until the end of this part of the game, the team from Colorado chased the Spurs.
However, the moment that marked the first part of the game was absolutely when Victor Wembanyama struck Nikola Jokić with his fist. The Nuggets went crazy, Adelman and Gordon received technicals, and at the end of the first quarter, the team from Texas was in the lead. It was 43:39.
In the first few minutes of the second period, Denver struggled quite a bit without Jokić. The team from Colorado could not stop the strike tandem of Castle-Wembanyama. However, when Jokić rose from the bench, that is where the problems began for San Antonio.
The Serb was not afraid of Wembanyama’s arms, so he frequently went to the free-throw line until the end of this part of the game. The man from Sombor was concentrated and reached important points for Denver. Nevertheless, San Antonio maintained its concentration, and after the first half, the visiting team held a lead of 72:65.
Denver was very close to a comeback at the beginning of the third period. Everything in the Nuggets’ game was getting better, the shot started working, and after a three-pointer by Christian Braun, it was 85:82. However, the Nuggets came to a complete halt. Misses piled up, even Jokić couldn’t hit anything, and San Antonio showed calmness and reached a double-digit lead again.
But Denver did not give up easily. Strawther and Braun hit very important three-pointers for the Nuggets, making it only minus two. Still, the Spurs repelled the Colorado team’s surge again, and before the final quarter, it was 96:92.
When Jokić is not there, things do not go well for Denver at all. That was proven at the beginning of the final quarter for the umpteenth time. Valančiūnas could do nothing against Wembanyama, and San Antonio reached plus nine. However, Denver must be given credit; they did not surrender.
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They came back to life again with some unreal three-pointers, especially the one by Johnson that he hit while being fouled. That gave wings to the Nuggets, who managed to equalize with a basket by Gordon after a great assist six seconds before the end. Wembanyama missed the shot for the win in the subsequent attack, so we went to overtime.
In overtime, there was a lot of nervousness and misses, but one man did not feel the pressure. Wembanyama, when he jumps, surely reaches over three and a half meters. That did not bother Jokić as he hit the decisive “Sombor Shuffle.” Wembanyama remained in wonder, but then the Serb scored once more and showed the young Frenchman who is the boss.
Denver reached a big victory, perhaps the biggest of the season so far, and after a frantic struggle. Jokić finished the match with 40 points and 13 rebounds. Braun followed with 21. On the other side, the fearsome Wembanyama had 34 points and 18 rebounds, while Castle had 20 points.
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Source: Sportal, Serbian Times Photo: Imagn Images / ddp USA / Profimedia