Nikola Jokic delivered a dominant 46-point performance as the Denver Nuggets (20-14) defeated the San Antonio Spurs (18-17) in a thrilling 122-111 overtime win on Saturday. The victory avenged Denver’s narrow loss to the Spurs just a day earlier.
Jokic, who also added 9 rebounds and 10 assists, took control of the extra period, scoring nine points and sealing the game with a key possession after stripping Victor Wembanyama. The reigning MVP’s efforts ensured there would be no repeat of Friday’s last-second heroics by Devin Vassell.
Wembanyama, playing on his 21st birthday, recorded 20 points and 23 rebounds. Despite his strong outing, the French phenom went scoreless in overtime and could not secure a rebound.
Michael Porter Jr. supported Jokic with a stellar 28 points and 10 rebounds. Porter connected on four of his nine three-point attempts and was a force on the glass. Jamal Murray chipped in with 13 points and six assists, while Russell Westbrook contributed nine points, 10 rebounds, and six assists for Denver.
The Spurs were led by Harrison Barnes, who tallied 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting, including four three-pointers. Vassell added 19 points, and Keldon Johnson provided a spark off the bench with 10 points and eight rebounds.
The game remained close throughout, with San Antonio forcing overtime after Vassell tied the score at 108 with a putback layup in the final seconds of regulation. Jokic missed a contested 19-footer over Wembanyama to send the game into the extra session.
In overtime, Jokic’s relentless play secured the win for Denver. After his crucial strip of Wembanyama, the Serbian center converted a layup to give the Nuggets a 115-108 lead with just over two minutes remaining. Denver’s defense held strong, limiting San Antonio to three points in the final period.
Denver’s bench, led by Peyton Watson and Julian Strawther, provided valuable contributions, combining for 18 points and 21 rebounds. San Antonio’s reserves outscored Denver’s, led by Julian Champagnie’s 10 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Jokic’s brilliance.
Zach Collins and Russell Westbrook added to the intensity of the matchup, exchanging taunts in the first quarter that resulted in technical fouls for both. Despite the heated exchange, both players settled into their roles and contributed to their teams.
The Nuggets shot 43.5% from the field and made 10-of-33 three-point attempts. San Antonio struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 27.1% of their threes. Denver also dominated the offensive boards, grabbing 14 rebounds compared to San Antonio’s 13.
