DENVER — With mere moments remaining in the concluding minute of the extra period, and Denver ahead of San Antonio by two points, three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic maneuvered the ball into the key while Victor Wembanyama adopted a defensive posture.
Jokic drove Wembanyama back, then simulated a pass to Christian Braun, before swiftly executing his signature “Sombor Shuffle” for an 11-foot fadeaway shot over the extended arm of the 7-foot-5 Frenchman.
Wembanyama gazed away astonished near the conclusion of a Saturday afternoon filled with ceaseless, stunning maneuvers from a duo of leading contenders for this season’s NBA MVP award. Fueled by Jokic’s match-best performance of 40 points, 13 assists, 8 rebounds, and three blocks, all without any turnovers, the Denver Nuggets ended San Antonio’s 11-game victory run and prolonged their own to eight with a 136-134 triumph in the extra session.
“I’d gladly pay to observe these two teams play,” Nuggets coach David Adelman remarked.
Indeed, many concurred, given the packed attendance of 20,039 at Ball Arena that had just watched Jokic achieve his third professional performance with a minimum of 40 points, 10 assists, and 3 blocks. Since blocks were initially monitored (1973-74), only Dwyane Wade has logged more similar contests (5), as per ESPN Research. Additionally, it marked Jokic’s seventh professional outing tallying a minimum of 30 points and 10 assists without any turnovers.
Comprising the one-legged “Sombor Shuffle” score, Jokic sank two crucial baskets over Wembanyama in the final minute of the extra period. The second was a soft shot with 9.8 seconds left over Wembanyama, who had shifted to cover Jokic on the play merely an instant too tardy.
“He’s clearly the instigator to penalize you for any minor error or oversight,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson commented about Jokic. “He possesses all the deceptions, responses, and proficiencies to extract a penalty.”
In a brief, confined corridor behind double doors next to the visiting locker room, Wembanyama settled down and bent forward in a plastic chair to absorb the essence of his seventh direct confrontation against Jokic, who now holds a standing of 5-2 in the matchup. The 22-year old paced San Antonio, tallying 34 points, 18 rebounds, 7 assists, and 5 blocks, becoming the first Spur to score a minimum of 30 points with 15 rebounds in three successive performances, as indicated by ESPN Research.
Wembanyama also stands as the initial player since Shaquille O’Neal’s 1999-2000 MVP season to record three successive matches with a minimum of 30 points, 15 rebounds, and 3 blocks (O’Neal achieved this exploit in four consecutive games). Furthermore, he is the first since O’Neal in that ’99-00 MVP season to accumulate a minimum of 100 points, 50 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 blocks across a three-game stretch.
“I think it was an extraordinary contest,” Wembanyama said. “Highly enjoyable. Among the most entertaining matches. I wish we could have sealed the victory. All occurrences this evening benefit us. It was a genuine challenge against a team that’s competing for a significant objective currently. It had a little bit of postseason atmosphere. They’ve got the finest attacking athlete in the world. So, when you enter these matchups, you must consistently concentrate on defense.”
The Spurs were ahead 107-96 with 9:08 remaining, before the Nuggets orchestrated a 17-8 scoring surge to close the gap to two points on a Jokic jump shot with 4:12 remaining in normal time. San Antonio reclaimed a six-point lead after Wembanyama sank two foul shots with 1:39 to spare.
But on Denver’s subsequent possession, Cameron Johnson sunk a 24-foot shot following a pass by Jokic and drew a foul from De’Aaron Fox during the action. Johnson converted the subsequent free throw to finish the four-point sequence, bringing the Nuggets within a two-point margin with 1:24 remaining in regular play. Aaron Gordon leveled the score at 124 with 6.2 seconds remaining, forcing the match into overtime.
During the additional session, Jokic scored 7 points against the Spurs effectively on three of four attempts, while Wembanyama managed only two points during that stretch. But in playing a personal best of 40 minutes for the season, Wembanyama made a profound impact on Jokic, who was already captivated by the French player.
“I think the initial occasion I competed versus him; I informed you all he will transform the league. He will revolutionize basketball,” Jokic said. “My opinion remains unchanged. And I think he possesses both an opportunity and a likelihood to be the most unparalleled basketball athlete to ever grace the sport.”
Across three regular-season encounters, the Spurs and Nuggets have individually amassed over 130 points, the initial instance where two squads have each tallied 130 points in three contests facing each other within a single season since 1983-84, as documented by ESPN Research.
Curiously, San Antonio and Denver were the most recent teams to achieve that accomplishment.
So, prepare yourselves for the April 12 final game of the season involving these squads in San Antonio.
“They’re likely the two most distinctive athletes in the past ten years in the sport [with] their method of execution,” Adelman commented on Jokic and Wembanyama. “Their abilities diverge so greatly than other individuals in the league. A pair of exceptional athletes. This is a match worth purchasing admission to witness.”