Nikola Jokic finished with 40 points, including a 6-foot floater late in overtime, Christian Braun had 21 points, and the host Denver Nuggets ended San Antonio’s 11-game winning streak with a 136-134 win over the Spurs on Saturday.
Jokic, who finished with 13 assists, scored seven points in overtime to rally Denver to its eighth straight win and overcome a big game from Victor Wembanyama. The San Antonio big man had 34 points and 18 rebounds while going 16-for-17 from the foul line.
The 16 made free throws were a career high.
Jamal Murray had 15 points and 10 assists, Cam Johnson contributed 17 points, Aaron Gordon had 15 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 10 points for the Nuggets (50-28).
Stephon Castle had 20 points, Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie scored 18 apiece, De’Aaron Fox contributed 14 points, Dylan Harper had 12 points and Keldon Johnson 10 points for the Spurs (59-19). San Antonio had won 27 of 29 entering Saturday.
Champagnie’s 3-pointer early in the overtime gave the Spurs a 127-126 lead, but Denver took over. Gordon dunked a lob from Braun, Johnson hit a three and Jokic drained an 11-footer that gave the Nuggets a 133-129 lead with a minute left.
Wembanyama’s layup cut it to one possession but Jokic’s short jumper with 10 seconds left sealed it.
San Antonio led by 11 early and 113-106 midway through the fourth quarter before the Nuggets rallied.
Murray made a three, Johnson scored a fastbreak layup and Jokic’s jumper made it 115-113. Fox missed at the other end and Murray drained one from deep to give the Nuggets their first lead since it was 3-0.
Vassell hit three free throws and a layup and Wembanyama made two foul shots with 1:39 left to give the Spurs a 122-116 lead. Johnson was fouled on a made 3-pointer and hit the free throw to complete the four-point play, and Vassell slammed home a lob from Wembanyama
Jokic hit two free throws, Fox missed a three and Gordon’s dunk with 6.2 seconds left in the fourth sent it to overtime.
–Field Level Media
