The Denver Nuggets had the odds stacked against them on Thursday night. They played their second game in as many nights with a flight and losing an hour in a time change sandwiched in between. They looked tired early in their contest against the San Antonio Spurs but Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and a full team effort allowed the Nuggets to overcome a twenty-point deficit and steal the biggest win of the season 136-131.

Denver looked a bit sluggish to start but found their rhythm quickly. They weren’t able to knock down threes at the same clip as the Spurs were though and that kept San Antonio in front. The offenses slowed for a bit during the middle part of the game while Jokic got buckets for Denver. With just under five minutes to go he hit back to back shots in the lane to get the Nuggets within a point of the Spurs. Denver stayed close to San Antonio but couldn’t surpass them with the quarter winding down. The Spurs went on a run right around the two minute mark and built the lead to eight. Tim Hardaway Jr. kept putting up shots but wasn’t getting them to fall and no one else from Denver’s bench was scoring. By the time the first ended they trailed 37-25.

The 14-3 run that ended the first quarter became a 22-5 run two minutes into the second quarter and the game was in danger of getting away from the Nuggets before the second half. Julian Strawther got them some points but Dylan Harper was playing well on the Spurs side. Denver went cold again, the Spurs were draining threes. David Adelman had to take a timeout with the lead creeping up near twenty. Shortly after the timeout it got there but the Nuggets were able to stop the bleeding after that and get some points through Spencer Jones (including banking in a three). They chipped away at the lead a bit but then had a sloppy close to the half and trailed 69-53 going to the locker room.

Mar 12, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) shoots in front of Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) in the first half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images

Denver opened the second half playing better, they quickly had the lead back under double digits. The Spurs couldn’t stop fouling either, Denver got into the bonus with over seven minutes to play. They got as close as six before the Spurs responded. They built the lead back up to double digits as the Nuggets bench started checking in. Jokic was doing everything he could but Denver’s offense had stalled out again. The refereeing was also rough on both sides. The Nuggets challenged an offensive foul call on Jokic but Josh Tiven and his crew decided Stephon Castle bear hugging Nikola wasn’t actually physical contact. It was another poor close to the quarter for Denver despite the efforts of Jamal Murray. He was able to at least keep the Nuggets in the game to give them a chance at a comeback. After three, Denver trailed 106-94.

Jones started the fourth once again playing well. He and Murray sparked an 11-0 run early in the quarter and got Denver back within a point. DeAaron Fox took control for the Spurs after that and didn’t let the Nuggets overtake them. Spencer’s big quarter continued but every time it seemed like the Nuggets were going to go in front San Antonio would get a three and go back up by four or five. Denver kept pushing, their defensive effort was fantastic. A Murray three gave them the lead with just over four and half minutes to go. The Spurs had gone ice cold from the floor while Murray was red hot. After a Cam Johnson three Denver was up nine with three minutes to go and San Antonio needed a timeout. They knocked down a pair of threes after that and got back within three with just over a minute to go. Castle had a chance to tie the game with about 20 seconds left but missed his three and Murray salted it away at the free throw line. Denver gets a huge win 136-131.