DENVER — Victor Wembanyama stole Nikola Jokic's pass with four seconds left, and the San Antonio Spurs held on to beat the Denver Nuggets 113-110 on Friday night.
Wembanyama finished with 35 points and 18 rebounds to help the Spurs overcome a big night from Jokic. The three-time MVP had 41 points, 18 rebounds and 9 assists, falling just short of his 15th triple-double.
It marked the sixth game since the NBA/ABA merger in 1976 — and first since 2019 — to feature dueling 35-point, 15-rebound performances.
Denver had the ball down by one with 17 seconds left. Jokic tried to pass to a teammate, but Wembanyama intercepted it and fed Devin Vassell for a game-sealing dunk.
«I think he's better this year than last year, and I think he's going to get even better,» Jokic said of Wembanyama. «I think he's a special player. I think he's one of a kind and is going to be remembered forever.»
Wembanyama relished the opportunity to play against Jokic, saying the experience could only help him improve.
«Multiple-time MVP, soon to be MVP again,» he said of Jokic. «Can't ask for a better way to get better.»
Michael Porter Jr. missed a 34-footer at the buzzer that would have sent it to overtime. He finished with 22 points for the Nuggets, whose three-game winning streak ended.
Spurs interim coach Mitch Johnson credited his team's composure.
«I thought every time they had us on the ropes, I thought we kind of composed ourselves and fought ourselves back into the game, which was nice to see,» he said.
Wembanyama picked up his fifth foul with 8:46 left but shook it off to hit two deep 3-pointers to give San Antonio a 97-92 lead with 7:52 left.
Denver rallied to lead by five, but the Spurs scored six straight points to take a 109-108 lead and
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