SAN ANTONIO — Nikola Jokic had 46 points and 10 rebounds and the Denver Nuggets spoiled Victor Wembanyama’s 21st birthday on Saturday (Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, PH time), beating the San Antonio Spurs 122-111 in overtime.
Wembanyma finished with 20 points and 23 rebounds for San Antonio, but was scoreless and without a rebound in OT. Wembanyama has 57 double-doubles in 101 career games.
The teams split the home-and-home series on consecutive nights. The Spurs won Friday’s game 113-110 when Wembanyama stole the ball from Jokic with four seconds remaining and Vassell scored on a fastbreak layup.
Jokic made sure there were no such heroics Saturday, scoring nine points in the extra period.
Michael Porter Jr. added 28 points and 10 rebounds for Denver.
Harrison Barnes scored 22 points and Devin Vassell 19 for San Antonio, which had won two straight.
Vassell missed a contested layup, but tipped in the rebound, to tie the game at 108 with 14 seconds remaining in regulation. Jokic missed a 19-footer over Wembanyama with two seconds remaining to close regulation.
Zach Collins and Russell Westbrook each received a technical foul in the first quarter after taunting one another, with Westbrook doing so from the bench.
Denver’s five-man bench accounted for 18 points and 21 rebounds. San Antonio’s reserves had 43 points.
The Spurs’ Julian Champagnie was 3 for 4 on 3-pointers in the two-game set against Denver.
After stripping possession from Wembanyama, Jokic scored his 44th point on a layup to put Denver up 115-108 with 2:27 remaining in OT. Jokic had two rebounds and Westbrook one as the Nuggets put up four shots on the possession.
Wembanyama is averaging 30.6 points and 11.7 rebounds in his last nine games.
Trail Blazers 105, Bucks 102
MILWAUKEE — Anfernee Simons scored 28 points and Deni Avdija 19 as the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Milwaukee Bucks 105-102.
Giannis Antetokounmpo hit two free throws to give the Bucks a 102-100 lead. Simons was fouled on a scoring drive and completed the three-point play, giving Portland a 103-102 lead with 23.5 seconds remaining.
Milwaukee turned it over on its next possession without getting a shot, giving Portland possession with 8.4 seconds remaining.
Simons hit two more free throws with 5.4 seconds left, giving Portland a 105-102 lead. Damian Lillard missed a 3-point try from the left side on the Bucks’ final possession.
Antetokounmpo finished with 31 points and 11 rebounds, and AJ Green added 21 points on seven 3-pointers.
Portland snapped a two-game skid and won for the third time in five games.
Milwaukee has lost two straight and four of five, with each loss to teams with sub-.500 records.
Simons’ three-point play gave the Blazers the lead for good at 103-102 with 23.5 seconds remaining.
Green’s seven 3-pointers matched his career high.
Elsewhere, the Detroit Pistons won 119-105 over the Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz routed Miami Heat 136-100, Chicago Bulls beat New York Knick 139-126, Golden State Warriors beat Memphis Grizzlies 121-113, Philadelphia 76ers drowned Brooklyn Nets 123-94, Indiana Pacers trounced Phoenix Suns 126-108, and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Atlanta Hawks 131-105. / AP
