Jokic outduels Wembanyama in 'amazing' OT thriller - ESPN

DENVER — As seconds ticked away near the final minute of overtime with Denver leading San Antonio by two points, three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic dribbled into the paint as Victor Wembanyama crouched into a defensive stance.

Jokic backed down Wembanyama, then faked a pass to Christian Braun, before quickly unleashing his patented «Sombor Shuffle» for an 11-foot stepback jumper over the outstretched hand of the 7-foot-5 Frenchman.

Wembanyama looked away flabbergasted near the end of a Saturday afternoon bursting with back-and-forth breathtaking plays from a pair of the top candidates for this season's NBA MVP award. Powered by Jokic's game-high 40 points, 13 assists, 8 rebounds and three blocks with no turnovers, the Denver Nuggets snapped San Antonio's 11-game winning streak and extended their own to eight with a 136-134 triumph in OT.

«I would pay to watch these two teams play,» Nuggets coach David Adelman said.

Certainly, several people agreed considering the sellout crowd of 20,039 at Ball Arena that had just watched Jokic string together his third-career outing with at least 40 points, 10 assists and 3 blocks. Only Dwyane Wade has recorded more such games (5) since blocks were first tracked (1973-74), according to ESPN Research. It was also Jokic's seventh career game with at least 30 points and 10 assists with no turnovers.

Including the one-legged «Sombor Shuffle» bucket, Jokic nailed two big shots over Wembanyama in the last minute of overtime. The second was a floater with 9.8 seconds remaining over Wembanyama, who had rotated to Jokic on the play just a tick too late.

«He's obviously the catalyst to make you pay for any subtle mistake or slippage,» Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said of Jokic. «He has all the tricks,