The San Antonio Spurs fell to the Denver Nuggets on Thursday, and with Victor Wembanyama out with an injury, the Spurs turned to two unexpected players to try and slow down Nikola Jokic.
The San Antonio Spurs blew a 20-point lead on Thursday night, falling to the Denver Nuggets 136-131. Nikola Jokic was his usual dominant self, recording 31 points, 20 rebounds, 12 assists, three steals, and two blocks. Jamal Murray got hot down the stretch as well, finishing with 39 points.
The Spurs were led by Stephon Castle, who finished with the third triple-double of his career. However, with Victor Wembanyama being a late scratch with an ankle injury, the Spurs were simply not at full strength.
San Antonio beat the Nuggets without Wemby earlier in the season, but as Denver gets healthy and prepares for a playoff run, they aren't an easy opponent, no matter who is on the court.
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Wembanyama is the best player on the roster, and the Spurs are simply a much better team when he's out there.
"It's a lot different without Vic out there," said Stephon Castle after the loss. "Sometimes guys don't even want to drive because he's on the court. Obviously, there's a big change in that. But, we have to learn how to still get stops in the paint without him there and then be able to still keep them off the offensive glass."
Luke Kornet got the starting nod with Wembanyama out, and he offered only three rebounds and no points, although his defense was solid. With Kornet struggling, the Spurs turned to Keldon Johnson and Carter Bryant to play some small-ball center, and called up Mason Plumlee in the first half.
"I thought they were great," said Mitch Johnson on Keldon and Bryant's efforts down low and defending Jokic. "I thought they fought. I thought they tried to front. I have no complaints regarding the physicality and the competitiveness that we showed tonight. I thought there was some gamesmanship that was good for us to go through and experience tonight."
Johnson has the strength to size up larger opponents, and he was clearly getting under Jokic's skin. Of course, the Joker is the best offensive player in the game right now, so Johnson and Bryant were patches, not solutions.
With the loss, the season series is tied at a game apiece, and the Spurs and Nuggets will meet twice more before the season is over.