Jokic Delivers 42-Point Masterclass to Overcome Wembanyama’s Near Quadruple-Double

Nikola Jokic tallied 42 points and 16 rebounds to secure a 110-105 victory for the Denver Nuggets over the San Antonio Spurs at the Moody Center.

Nikola Jokic propelled the Denver Nuggets to a 110-105 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night, recording 42 points on 18-of-32 shooting. The Serbian center complemented his scoring output with 16 rebounds and six assists across 38 minutes of action at the Moody Center in Austin. This performance allowed Denver to reclaim the top seed in the Western Conference, moving them to a 53-23 record. The contest featured 11 lead changes and 10 ties, remaining undecided until the final minute of play.

Victor Wembanyama countered with a historic stat line, finishing just one assist shy of a quadruple-double. The French rookie registered 23 points, 15 rebounds, eight assists, and nine blocked shots in 34 minutes. His defensive presence was felt early as he swatted three shots in the opening five minutes, yet he struggled from the perimeter, converting only 2-of-11 attempts from beyond the arc. Despite his rim protection, the Spurs fell to 18-58 on the season.

Aaron Gordon provided essential secondary scoring for the visitors, contributing 23 points and seven rebounds while shooting 9-of-12 from the field. Michael Porter Jr. added 15 points and 16 rebounds, securing a double-double that proved vital during a fourth quarter where Denver outscored San Antonio 24-20. The Nuggets dominated the paint, tallying 58 points in the restricted area compared to 46 for the home side. Denver’s bench contributed 14 points, led by Christian Braun’s seven-point effort.

San Antonio’s offensive rhythm relied heavily on Malaki Branham, who scored 24 points on 10-of-19 shooting. Tre Jones orchestrated the backcourt with 10 points and 11 assists, marking his third double-double of the campaign. The Spurs shot 40% as a collective unit, hitting 12-of-35 three-pointers. Zach Collins added 13 points off the bench, though he fouled out with 1:42 remaining in regulation, leaving the Spurs thin in the frontcourt during the closing sequence.

The game reached a stalemate at 105-105 with 1:02 left on the clock following a layup by Sandro Mamukelashvili. Michael Porter Jr. broke the deadlock by sinking a 26-foot three-pointer from the left wing with 28 seconds remaining. Following a missed jumper by Wembanyama, Jokic secured the defensive rebound and converted two free throws to ice the game. Denver finished the night shooting 43.8% from the floor while committing only eight turnovers.

Defensively, the Nuggets limited San Antonio to just 17 points in the second quarter, their lowest output of the half. However, the Spurs responded with a 31-point third period to keep the margin within three points entering the final frame. Denver’s perimeter defense held Devin Vassell and Jeremy Sochan out of the lineup due to injuries, forcing the Spurs to rely on a rotation that featured four players with less than two years of NBA experience. The victory marks Denver’s third win in four meetings against San Antonio this season.