The Denver Nuggets have two straight games against the San Antonio Spurs and had a golden opportunity to secure victory in the first contest tonight. Nikola Jokic had a monster game once again but Victor Wembanyama was up to the task and had a big night himself. Denver battled back in the second half and looked like they were going to win but poor execution down the stretch spelled their doom. The Spurs win a close one, 113-110.

Denver struggled to score to start the game. they had just one bucket in the first three minutes which let San Antonio get a lead. Jokic had a couple of buckets but otherwise Denver had nothing on offense. He kept them in the game and then the Nuggets went on a mini-run to pull within six. They struggled to get any closer than that though because they weren’t getting any stops. Jokic got an early rest after picking up two fouls and the non-Nikola group actually sparked a run to pull Denver back within one. After that Wembanyama checked back in and Denver went cold from the floor. They ended the first trailing 32-30.

Denver was very hesitant to attack the basket to open the second quarter and they couldn’t buy a jumper, meanwhile Wemby was heating up. The Spurs went on a run and quickly built a double digit lead. Jokic came back in but Wemby was dominating. He went to the bench halfway through the quarter with the Spurs up a dozen. The Nuggets struggled to secure rebounds and kept giving up too many second chances to the Spurs who were struggling without Wemby to score. That kept Denver from closing the gap withe the quarter winding down. Wembanyama checked back in with a couple of minutes to go and kept the Nuggets from getting any closer but did pick up his third foul. At the half Denver trailed 60-52.

The Nuggets got a couple buckets to open the second half and cut into San Antonio’s lead a bit. Wembanyama was hesitant with three fouls and that made the Spurs look like a different team. After Denver pulled within one with about eight minutes to go San Antonio took a timeout. It didn’t help much with the momentum fully on Denver’s side. They took the lead but San Antonio found their shot again and kept it close. Wembanyama picked up his fourth foul but the Nuggets didn’t grow their lead much with him on the bench. Jokic had another big third quarter but every time he scored the Spurs had a response. With two minutes left they tied the game at 87. Denver tightened up the defense to close out the third, and went into the fourth leading 90-87.

Denver’s offense couldn’t score without Jokic on the floor to start the fourth. They didn’t have a single point for the first three minutes of the quarter and didn’t have a field goal for over four minutes. After a timeout Jokic checked in and Denver got their first field goal (Michael Porter Jr. three). They kept within a bucket or two but still trailed with only six minutes left in the game. Julian Strawther got Denver back the lead and the game was headed to a tight finish. Both teams started to go cold from the floor with the Nuggets clinging to the small lead. Wemby tied it at 103 just under the four minute mark and then both teams went on mini-runs to make it a one point game headed into the final minute. The Nuggets had an opportunity to win it but Jokic turned the ball over in the final seconds and the Spurs escaped with a 113-110 win.