Nikola Jokic praised his team’s second-half performance following Denver’s 136-131 comeback victory over the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center on Thursday. “We started to play a little bit trippy, a little bit aggressive… the group was really good. Gave us energy, gave us momentum and we kind of took the tempo of the game,” Jokic said.
The Nuggets trailed by 20 points early in the third quarter before Jamal Murray sparked an 11-0 run to take a 121-119 lead with 4:38 remaining. Jokic emphasized the team’s confidence and resiliency. “We usually don’t quit and we always fight and find a way. Even if we don’t find a way, we don’t stop playing. That’s what happened,” he said.
Jokic also highlighted his teammates’ adaptability under pressure. “It’s good that the teams are doing that more and more… everybody else is confident now. So I think just helping us,” he said when asked about how teammates adjusted to defensive attention.
Murray’s performance drew particular praise from Jokic, who called him “phenomenal” for scoring 39 points. “He made a couple free throws, little spin floater… when he’s playing like that, it’s really fun to watch,” Jokic said. On recognizing when Murray is about to heat up, he added, “When he asks for a screen like just let me go, then I know.”
Spencer Jones’ contributions in the fourth quarter were also acknowledged. “He was amazing… had a floater, a couple different stops, one steal… he gave us momentum and energy for the comeback,” Jokic said. Cameron Johnson and Christian Braun also played key roles in the late rally, helping Denver outscore San Antonio 42-25 in the fourth.
Jokic discussed the Spurs’ defensive versatility and depth. “They have three, four guys that really can go downhill… and really good shooters around them… they’re really deep, really talented, playing the right way,” he said. He also reflected on facing elite teams while missing key players. “We still didn’t have Aaron and Peyton… everybody who is playing kind of contributes in some way, offensive rebound, steal, possession… everybody really helping us win,” he said.
When asked about the team’s preference for a comeback or blowout win, Jokic was direct: “Blowout.” He noted that while the comeback was satisfying, dominant wins are his priority.
Denver improved to 41-26 with the win, maintaining its playoff positioning in the Western Conference. Murray led the team with 39 points, Jokic posted a triple-double of 31 points, 20 rebounds, and 12 assists, and Spencer Jones added 19 points off the bench. San Antonio fell to 48-18, snapping a five-game winning streak without Victor Wembanyama.
