Wembanyama's dazzling performance wasn't enough as the Nuggets snatched victory in a thrilling overtime thriller, showcasing a potent playoff preview.
No contender in the NBA West came into the weekend hotter than the Denver Nuggets ...
Except for the San Antonio Spurs.
Before Saturday's matinee showdown, the Nuggets had won seven straight, with perennial MVP candidate Nikola Jokic the centerpiece of it all.
But Victor Wembanyama's Spurs came in having won in a row to surge into the hunt for the top seed in the Western Conference.
And Saturday's result in Denver?
In a thriller, the Nuggets topped San Antonio, 136-134.
The loss drops the Spurs to 59-19 and comes despite a spectacular Wemby effort.
Wembanyama, the Western Conference Defensive Player of the Month for March after averaging 3.7 blocks and amassing 20 steals, in this outing was good for 34 points, 18 rebounds, seven assists and five blocks.
He also hit 16 of 17 free throws.
Does this game go down in the "get some experience'' category''?
Some think the Spurs' youth is going to be a problem come playoff time.
Wembanyama, 22, seems unconcerned.
“We don’t have experience, right? Screw it,” Wembanyama told ESPN before the game. “That’s all we got. We’re not going to play any different way just because it is this way. We’re still going to play 100% and try to win this championship.
"Screw it.”
Excuse his French. ... but on most nights this year, he's been proven right.
Here, the Spurs faced a Denver team that is also a top contender in the West - now at 50-28) and is even moreso one now that Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic is out for the rest of the regular season due to a hamstring injury sustained Thursday night.
So San Antonio is still shooting for the No. 1 slot, which is presently held by OKC. And the Nuggets have a crack at the No. 3 slot.
And should Denver overtake Los Angeles? That could set up a potential second-round matchup pitting the Spurs (assuming they don’t catch Oklahoma City) against these same Nuggets.
Jokic, who clinched a triple-double average for the second straight season with 12 assists against the Jazz. Jokic is averaging 27.7 points and leads the league with 13.0 rebounds and 10.8 assists per game.
Here, "The Joker'' scored 40 points, with eight rebounds, 13 assists and three blocks.
But yeah, this one is in the books. So "Screw It'' as the Spurs move on.