In a stunning turn of events, the San Antonio Spurs (21-60) orchestrated a remarkable comeback, rallying from a 23-point deficit to snatch a thrilling 121-120 victory over the Western Conference-leading Denver Nuggets (56-25).
Devonte’ Graham’s clutch floater with 0.9 seconds left sealed the Spurs’ remarkable triumph, dealing a significant blow to Denver’s postseason aspirations.
With this unexpected loss, the Nuggets relinquished their sole possession of first place in the West, sliding into a tie with the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Heading into the final day of the regular season on Sunday, tiebreakers favored the Thunder in first place, followed by the Timberwolves and the Nuggets.
Despite trailing by a substantial margin, the short-handed Spurs, anchored by the sensational performance of Victor Wembanyama, showcased resilience and determination throughout the game.
Wembanyama delivered a stellar performance, amassing an impressive 34 points and 12 rebounds, asserting his dominance on both ends of the court.
Jamal Murray led the charge for the Nuggets with a 35-point display, supported by Nikola Jokic’s double-double of 22 points and 12 rebounds. Denver seemed poised for victory, maintaining a commanding lead for the majority of the game.
However, the Spurs refused to back down, mounting a relentless comeback fueled by Wembanyama’s electrifying presence on the court. Graham’s timely layup with 30.3 seconds remaining narrowed the gap, setting the stage for his game-winning heroics in the final seconds.
Despite missing key players due to injuries, including Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson, the Spurs outscored the reigning NBA champions in a pivotal fourth quarter. Sandro Mamukelashvili’s season-high 21 points and 12 rebounds further bolstered the Spurs’ spirited comeback effort.
