Two-time MVP Nikola Jokic scored 42 points and outdueled Rookie of the Year favorite Victor Wembanyama in Denver’s 110-105 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night to retake 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 do facing the sensational rookie.
“He had like 600 blocks tonight, but we got the win,” Jokic said after Denver leap-frogged 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 when they beat Houston 113-106.
Jokic’s hook shot broke a 103-103 tie but Wembanyama’s layup at the other end knotted it up again with a minute remaining.
Michael Porter Jr., who had 15 points and a career-best 16 rebounds, made a 3 with 28 seconds left to put Denver up 108-105 and Wembanyama missed a 3-pointer with 18 seconds left but the Spurs burned 10 seconds before Wembanyama fouled Jokic, who sank both free throws with 8 seconds remaining.
The Nuggets had a tough time shaking off the scrappy Spurs, taking a one-point lead into both halftime and the fourth quarter before Denver’s reserves used an 11-2 run to start the fourth quarter while Jokic was grabbing his usual breather on the bench.
Jokic returned with Denver ahead 99-92 but back-to-back 3s by Tre Jones, who had his third career triple-double (10 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists), and Sandro Mamukelashvili tightened it up again, setting up a thrilling finish with Jokic and Wembanyama going at it until the very end.
The Spurs, who were without Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan, and Devin Vassell due to foot injuries, were no easy opponent for the Nuggets, who were playing without point guard Jamal Murray (knee) for the sixth straight game.
Seven players scored in double figures for San Antonio, led by Malaki Branham’s 24 points.
Murray missed his sixth consecutive game due to right knee discomfort, shin splints, a sprained left ankle, and other ailments.