Jokic powers Nuggets past Spurs for 3rd straight victory
SAN ANTONIO (AP) Nikola Jokic had 26 points and 10 assists, Michael Porter Jr. added 24 points and the Denver Nuggets defeated the San Antonio Spurs 115-109 on Monday night for their third straight victory.
Denver point guard Jamal Murray added 19 points, six assists and five rebounds. Murray had six points in the final quarter, going 3 for 4 from the field.
''He had some really good moments in that fourth quarter to help us seal the win,'' Porter said. ''I'm really happy for him, but that's what Jamal does. He's a big-time player in those moments.''
It was San Antonio's fourth straight loss following a 5-2 start.
Keldon Johnson had 30 points and Josh Richardson added 22 for the Spurs. Tre Jones had a career-high 20 points and a season-high nine assists
The Nuggets were not as efficient as they were Saturday in a 126-101 home victory against the Spurs, and it almost cost them.
''Back in Denver they were not as aggressive as they were tonight,'' Denver guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope said. ''They came out aggressive. They were attacking the basket and, obviously, they were knocking down shots.''
Fortunately for Denver, San Antonio had a season-high 24 turnovers. The Nuggets scored 35 points off those turnovers in the opener of a four-game homestand.
''The Nuggets did a good job of just getting in passing lanes,'' Richardson said. ''Their wings were staying home a lot, so it kind of forced us to figure out another way to attack.''
The Nuggets had 33 assists after collecting a season-high 37 against the Spurs on Saturday.
San Antonio did force 20 turnovers against a Denver team that was averaging 15.2 per game.
The Spurs cut the Nuggets' lead to 96-93 four minutes into the fourth quarter when Devin Vassell stripped Porter at the top of the key and raced for a two-handed dunk. A 3-pointer by Johnson followed quickly by a steal and breakaway layup by Jones gave the Spurs a 101-100 lead.
Murray and Jokic closed the game out for the Nuggets. The duo combined for 12 points in the fourth.
Vassell finished with 17 points.
GOAL!
In addition to shooting 11 for 20 from the field, Jokic had three blocks, two steals and seven deflections.
Malone wasn't sure how many passes the two-time reigning MVP deflected with his feet, but it would have added to what the Denver coach says is a league-leading total.
''Nikola might be the best I've ever seen, he would have been a hell of a goalie, with kick saves,'' Malone said. ''He's amazing not just with his hands but using his feet to disrupt pocket passes and pick and rolls. He breaks up a lot of those not just with his hands but his feet.''
TIP-INS
Nuggets: F Jeff Green had six points in 18 minutes after being listed as probable with a sprained left finger. . G Kentavious Caldwell-Pope received a technical foul with 2:40 left in the first half after continually complaining about a defensive foul. Vassell appeared to initiate contact and push off near midcourt, but Caldwell-Pope received the foul. Denver's bench signaled Vassell pushed off, but Nuggets coach Michael Malone opted not to challenge the call.
Spurs: San Antonio's average loss is by 20 points. All but two of its five losses have been by double figures, including the worst home loss in franchise history during a 143-100 defeat against Toronto on Nov. 2. . After initially saying Vassell would come off the bench, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich announced the third-year guard would return to the starting lineup. Vassell was a sub the previous two games following a four-game absence due to a sore left knee. . C Zach Collins sat out with bruised lower left leg.
UP NEXT
Nuggets: At Indiana on Wednesday in second game of a four-game trip.
Spurs: Host Memphis on Wednesday in the second game of a three-game homestand.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Nikola Jokic vs. Jakob Poeltl (Keldon Johnson gains possession) | |||
11:42 | Keldon Johnson misses two point bank jump shot | |||
11:37 | Jeremy Sochan offensive rebound | |||
11:35 | +2 | Tre Jones makes two point floating jump shot (Jeremy Sochan assists) | 0-2 | |
11:20 | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point turnaround hook shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 2-2 | |
11:20 | Jeremy Sochan shooting foul (Aaron Gordon draws the foul) | |||
11:20 | +1 | Aaron Gordon makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 3-2 | |
11:09 | Nikola Jokic kicked ball violation | |||
11:04 | +3 | Devin Vassell makes three point jump shot (Jakob Poeltl assists) | 3-5 | |
10:40 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point turnaround jump shot (Michael Porter Jr. assists) | 5-5 | |
10:40 | Tre Jones shooting foul (Nikola Jokic draws the foul) | |||
10:40 | +1 | Nikola Jokic makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 6-5 | |
10:20 | +2 | Keldon Johnson makes two point driving finger roll layup (Tre Jones assists) | 6-7 | |
10:20 | Nikola Jokic shooting foul (Keldon Johnson draws the foul) | |||
10:20 | +1 | Keldon Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 6-8 | |
10:07 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope misses three point jump shot | |||
10:04 | Devin Vassell defensive rebound | |||
9:57 | Tre Jones misses three point jump shot | |||
9:51 | Jeremy Sochan offensive rebound | |||
9:50 | +3 | Keldon Johnson makes three point jump shot (Jakob Poeltl assists) | 6-11 | |
9:40 | Jamal Murray turnover (bad pass) (Devin Vassell steals) | |||
9:36 | +2 | Keldon Johnson makes two point running reverse dunk (Devin Vassell assists) | 6-13 | |
9:14 | Jamal Murray misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
9:12 | Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | |||
9:03 | Devin Vassell misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
9:01 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
8:56 | Jeremy Sochan blocks Aaron Gordon's two point running dunk | |||
8:56 | Tre Jones defensive rebound | |||
8:47 | Nikola Jokic blocks Jeremy Sochan's two point driving layup | |||
8:43 | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | |||
8:39 | +3 | Michael Porter Jr. makes three point running jump shot (Aaron Gordon assists) | 9-13 | |
8:19 | Jeremy Sochan misses three point jump shot | |||
8:15 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope defensive rebound | |||
7:52 | +2 | Jamal Murray makes two point driving finger roll layup | 11-13 | |
7:41 | Aaron Gordon shooting foul (Jakob Poeltl draws the foul) | |||
7:41 | Jakob Poeltl misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
7:41 | Spurs offensive rebound | |||
7:41 | Jakob Poeltl misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
7:39 | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | |||
7:22 | Nikola Jokic misses two point floating jump shot | |||
7:22 | Jeremy Sochan defensive rebound | |||
7:02 | Nikola Jokic blocks Devin Vassell's two point driving layup | |||
7:02 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope defensive rebound | |||
6:55 | Jakob Poeltl blocks Jamal Murray's two point driving layup | |||
6:55 | Nuggets offensive rebound | |||
6:55 | Spurs 60 second timeout | |||
6:39 | Nikola Jokic misses two point hook shot | |||
6:36 | Jakob Poeltl defensive rebound | |||
6:21 | Devin Vassell misses two point pullup bank jump shot | |||
6:18 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
6:10 | +3 | Michael Porter Jr. makes three point jump shot (Aaron Gordon assists) | 14-13 | |
5:47 | +2 | Keldon Johnson makes two point driving layup (Devin Vassell assists) | 14-15 | |
5:33 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point cutting dunk (Jamal Murray assists) | 16-15 | |
5:17 | +3 | Devin Vassell makes three point jump shot (Jakob Poeltl assists) | 16-18 | |
5:04 | +2 | Jamal Murray makes two point pullup jump shot | 18-18 | |
4:51 | Tre Jones misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
4:48 | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | |||
4:42 | Jamal Murray misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
4:41 | Nuggets offensive rebound | |||
4:37 | +2 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes two point jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 20-18 | |
4:17 | Nikola Jokic kicked ball violation | |||
4:08 | Keita Bates-Diop misses three point jump shot | |||
4:05 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
4:01 | Jakob Poeltl kicked ball violation | |||
3:56 | Bruce Brown misses two point driving layup | |||
3:54 | Charles Bassey defensive rebound | |||
3:51 | Josh Richardson offensive foul (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope draws the foul) | |||
3:51 | Josh Richardson turnover (offensive foul) | |||
3:37 | Bones Hyland turnover (traveling) | |||
3:30 | Charles Bassey offensive foul (Bruce Brown draws the foul) | |||
3:30 | Charles Bassey turnover (offensive foul) | |||
3:20 | Bones Hyland misses three point jump shot | |||
3:16 | Charles Bassey defensive rebound | |||
3:08 | +3 | Josh Richardson makes three point jump shot (Keldon Johnson assists) | 20-21 | |
2:56 | +2 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes two point cutting layup (Nikola Jokic assists) | 22-21 | |
2:52 | +2 | Keldon Johnson makes two point driving layup | 22-23 | |
2:52 | Nikola Jokic shooting foul (Keldon Johnson draws the foul) | |||
2:52 | Nuggets 60 second timeout | |||
2:52 | Keldon Johnson misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
2:49 | DeAndre Jordan defensive rebound | |||
2:28 | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point driving floating jump shot (Jeff Green assists) | 24-23 | |
2:04 | Keldon Johnson misses three point jump shot | |||
2:01 | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | |||
1:54 | Bruce Brown misses three point jump shot | |||
1:49 | Charles Bassey defensive rebound | |||
1:39 | Keita Bates-Diop turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
1:20 | +2 | Jeff Green makes two point driving floating bank jump shot (Bones Hyland assists) | 26-23 | |
1:09 | Bones Hyland shooting foul (Josh Richardson draws the foul) | |||
1:09 | +1 | Josh Richardson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 26-24 | |
1:09 | Josh Richardson misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
1:06 | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | |||
0:53 | Keita Bates-Diop shooting foul (DeAndre Jordan draws the foul) | |||
0:53 | +1 | DeAndre Jordan makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 27-24 | |
0:53 | +1 | DeAndre Jordan makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 28-24 | |
0:46 | +2 | Devin Vassell makes two point cutting dunk (Charles Bassey assists) | 28-26 | |
0:35 | Bruce Brown misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | |||
0:34 | Nuggets offensive rebound | |||
0:28 | Michael Porter Jr. misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
0:26 | DeAndre Jordan offensive rebound | |||
0:26 | DeAndre Jordan turnover (traveling) | |||
0:18 | +2 | Charles Bassey makes two point alley-oop dunk (Josh Richardson assists) | 28-28 | |
0:03 | Bones Hyland turnover (traveling) | |||
0:00 | Devin Vassell misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
0:00 | Spurs offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:44 | Michael Porter Jr. misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
11:41 | Devin Vassell defensive rebound | |||
11:36 | Bruce Brown shooting foul (Josh Richardson draws the foul) | |||
11:36 | +1 | Josh Richardson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 28-29 | |
11:36 | +1 | Josh Richardson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 28-30 | |
11:26 | Jeff Green offensive foul (Charge) (Josh Richardson draws the foul) | |||
11:26 | Jeff Green turnover (offensive foul) | |||
11:10 | Doug McDermott misses three point jump shot | |||
11:08 | Charles Bassey offensive rebound | |||
10:59 | +2 | Doug McDermott makes two point driving finger roll layup (Devin Vassell assists) | 28-32 | |
10:59 | Michael Porter Jr. defensive goaltending violation | |||
10:46 | Bones Hyland misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
10:44 | Keita Bates-Diop defensive rebound | |||
10:35 | Keita Bates-Diop misses two point finger roll layup | |||
10:32 | DeAndre Jordan defensive rebound | |||
10:21 | Michael Porter Jr. misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
10:16 | Devin Vassell defensive rebound | |||
10:13 | Bones Hyland shooting foul (Charles Bassey draws the foul) | |||
10:13 | Nuggets 60 second timeout | |||
10:13 | +1 | Charles Bassey makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 28-33 | |
10:13 | Charles Bassey misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
10:10 | DeAndre Jordan defensive rebound | |||
10:01 | +3 | Bones Hyland makes three point pullup jump shot | 31-33 | |
9:39 | Devin Vassell misses two point driving bank hook shot | |||
9:37 | Bones Hyland defensive rebound | |||
9:33 | Christian Braun turnover (lost ball) (Jeremy Sochan steals) | |||
9:24 | +2 | Tre Jones makes two point driving reverse layup | 31-35 | |
9:14 | +2 | Jeff Green makes two point cutting layup (DeAndre Jordan assists) | 33-35 | |
9:14 | Charles Bassey shooting foul (Jeff Green draws the foul) | |||
9:14 | Spurs 60 second timeout | |||
9:14 | Jeff Green misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
9:11 | Charles Bassey defensive rebound | |||
9:01 | Devin Vassell turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
8:38 |