AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Nikola Jokić scored 31 factors and the Denver Nuggets beat San Antonio 117-106 on Friday night time in a sport performed within the Texas capital because the Spurs drew a report crowd of their bid to broaden their regional fan base.
After having his preliminary shot blocked by San Antonio rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama, Jokic went 13 for 19 from the sphere. The reigning NBA Finals MVP added seven rebounds, 5 assists and two blocks.
“I don’t suppose anyone can do what Nikola does,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich mentioned. “He’s wonderful. Improbable.”
Jamal Murray added 15 factors and 10 assists for Denver, which received its fifth straight sport and for the eleventh time in 12 video games to stay atop the Western Convention standings.
Jeremy Sochan scored 19 factors and Devin Vassell and Wembanyama every had 17 factors for San Antonio, which misplaced its third straight.
The Spurs have performed in Austin the final two seasons to broaden their attain financially and construct their fan base. The transfer proved a preferred selection because the Spurs set the attendance report for a sporting occasion on the Moody Heart with 16,223 on Friday.
Nonetheless, Nuggets coach Michael Malone was involved his crew wouldn’t have the suitable mindset, since Austin is just not a conventional NBA metropolis.
“It has a preseason really feel to it,” Malone mentioned previous to the sport. “I hope for our gamers that when the bounce ball goes up that we perceive this isn’t the preseason, this can be a actual sport. Now we have to lock in and provides it the eye and respect that it deserves.”
The sport had its difficulties logistically. Groups have been unfamiliar with the place to go within the stadium. Screens and video boards for statistics weren’t updating or have been fully out, and Spurs radio announcer Invoice Schoening needed to ship his broadcast over his cellphone.
However, any concern Malone had about how the defending NBA champions would reply have been rapidly dashed.
The Nuggets shot 55% from the sphere and led by as many as 21 factors.
Denver compelled 16 turnovers, which led to 27 factors.
“Simply great exercise,” Malone mentioned. “You need to be disruptive defensively. You don’t need to let groups run their offense script and allow them to get no matter shot they need. You need to disrupt them and make groups really feel you and I feel we’re doing a very good job of it.”
Regardless of Wembanyama’s early block on Jokic, Denver attacked the rim with impunity. Aaron Gordon had an alley-oop dunk one possession after dunking with Wembanyama trailing intently. Michael Porter Jr. adopted by finishing a three-point play on a contested layup and foul by Julian Champagnie.
Porter completed with 13 factors and Gordon had seven.
Denver went on a 12-0 run within the opening quarter and constructed a 19-point lead.
“After we play protection like that, we make our life actually simpler,” Jokic mentioned. “We’re a superb working crew. We are able to get to the basket; we are able to shoot some open 3s. We are able to have some simple offense. Our protection is one thing that must be there daily and as we speak it was there.”
The Spurs reduce their deficit to 81-77 on Keldon Johnson’s contested layup towards Jokic with 1:23 remaining in third, however the Nuggets rapidly rebuilt a double-digit lead within the fourth.
“Some issues you’ll be able to’t match,” Popovich mentioned. “You’ll be able to’t match the expertise degree that they’ve proper now with (Spurs’) younger crew, however you see what it takes. The consistency, now we have the hassle, I’m happy with the way in which we performed. We have been actually shaky within the first quarter, like virtually an excessive amount of respect in a way. We seemed a bit of hesitant, they usually obtained it again collectively and performed effectively by about midway by the third quarter after which Murray took over and Jokic took over.”
UP NEXT
Nuggets: At Dallas on Sunday night time.
Spurs: Host Brooklyn on Sunday night time.