The Spurs knocked out the Nuggets to advance to the quarterfinals!

The Spurs are eager to play high-stakes games, and they made good on that gamble with a 139-136 win in Denver. Everything without Victor Vembanyamanor Stephon Castle, but with the outstanding Devin Vassell, the author of 35 points that allowed San Antonio to erase an 18-point deficit in the 3rd quarter.

There is no observation round in this decisive meeting for the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup. On this attractive floor, you have to wait almost three minutes to see the first missed shot. The game is on offense, and Vasell and Jamal Murray go blow for blow (14-14). Dylan Harper’s return is good for the Spurs, and Lindy Waters III unlocks a 3-pointer (32-29). The initiative is on the side of the Spurs, and Luca Cornet is sent to the alley-oop to make it 19-7 in the last four minutes, and they lead 41-33 after 12 minutes.

Cam Johnson is coming out of his box

The size of the Nuggets makes it difficult for the Spurs at the beginning of the second quarter, Denver closes the gap thanks to offensive rebounds, with Zeke Nnaji as “energetic”. Jonas Valanciunas is also doing well and Cameron Johnson is finally coming out of his silence to punish the Spurs defence. Points in “second chances” hurt the Spurs a lot, and the Jokic-Murray duo launched a 15-0 run and led by 13 points (66-53). Unsustainable, Murray fouls Cornet at the last second, and his layups offer a 15-point advantage (74-59) at the break.

Returning from the locker room, the Nuggets mastered their theme and the advantage rose to 18 points with Murray, Johnson, or even Spencer Jones, to answer Vassell and Julian Champagne (91-75). Spurs are looking for a trigger, and it will come from this same Champagne. First with a 4-point action, then with his aggressiveness. He’s everywhere, and despite being wasted, his energy is infectious. Tapom brings the Spurs back under 10 points (98-90). David Adelman multiplies the changes, but the “flywheel” is that the Spurs, who end this quarter with a 20-4 run, have an advantage of only one point (104-103) before the last quarter.

Vassell strikes a match

The final period begins with a great 3-point contest between Vassell and Tim Hardaway Jr. It’s great art, and when Vassell gives the Spurs the lead (111-109), Hardaway immediately responds. Their skill infects their teammates, and the two teams seek KOs with long-range rockets. Peyton Watson was served well by Nikola Jokic, who stopped the artillery for the tie (117-117). Champagne is still aggressive and will again look for And-1 (126-122) at the start of “money time”.

Murray responds, but Vassell kills the game with two consecutive triples (132-126). The end of the match is a fight for free throws, and the Spurs do not tremble to win 139-136. The success that sends them to the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup.

WHAT TO REMEMBER

Spurs are real! With this success, the Spurs hold the 4th place in the West with 13 wins and 5 losses. Without Victor Vembanyama they have a record of 5 wins with only 1 loss. Mitch Johnson’s men love to defy the odds with a 4-1 record against higher ranked teams.

10,000 for Murray. The game’s MVP until the start of the 4th quarter, Jamal Murray used the night to become the 5th player in Nuggets history to reach the 10,000 career point milestone. The other four are Alex English, Jokic, Dan Issel and Carmelo Anthony.

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How to read statistics? Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive jump; T = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = point difference when the player is on the court; Points = Points; Rating: player rating calculated based on positive actions – negative actions.