Somehow Nikola Jokic calculated the limit of Victor Wembanyama\u2019s reach.<\/p>\n
There were three seconds separating the shot clock and game clock in the final seconds of overtime with the Nuggets nursing a two-point lead. Denver looked content to hold the ball to see if the Spurs were going to foul before Jokic wound up wide open a step outside the lane on the left side of the court. Jamal Murray provided the pass, and when Jokic turned toward the hoop all of Wembanyama\u2019s 7-foot-4 frame and eight-foot wingspan was in the way.<\/p>\n
That wasn\u2019t enough to deter Jokic from taking, and making, one of his most efficient shots. Nuggets coach David Adelman had no complaints with the decision after another 40-point performance from the three-time Most Valuable Player.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen Jok shoots a floater, I\u2019ll be honest, that\u2019s better than shooting free throws,\u201d Adelman said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s an auto two.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jokic lofted the ball just beyond Wembanyama\u2019s reach. The ball hardly touched the rim on its way through, giving the Nuggets a four-point lead with 10 seconds left.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust a little bit more arc in your shot,\u201d Jokic said of the required adjustment when playing against the expected Defensive Player of the Year.<\/p>\n
A couple of possessions earlier, Jokic hit his signature Sombor Shuffle shot over Wembanyama\u2019s outstretched hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve got the best offensive player in the world, so when you come into these games, you always have to be focused on defense,\u201d Wembanyama said after Denver ended San Antonio\u2019s 11-game win streak.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a really fun game, and we\u2019re going to learn a lot from it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Combine the touch with a 7-foot frame and Jokic\u2019s floater is one of the most unstoppable shots in the NBA.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s like bar game-like. It\u2019s insane,\u201d Adelman said. \u201cI just have never seen anybody shoot a floater like Nikola. It\u2019s almost like the more contested it is, the better it is. It\u2019s through the net even cleaner.\u201d<\/p>\n
Braun\u2019s persistence pays off<\/p>\n
Christian Braun knows what\u2019s coming.<\/p>\n
Teams that want to commit an extra body to slow down Denver\u2019s league-best offense led by Jokic and Jamal Murray have to leave someone open.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey typically pick me,\u201d Braun, a 36.7% 3-point shooter for his career, admitted. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of games, especially in the playoffs, that that\u2019s going to be the case. I obviously expect that and know that. I just got to continue to do what I\u2019m doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
That was the case on Saturday. The Spurs dared Braun to beat them, and it worked early. Braun made just one of the first five 3s he attempted. He finished 5 for 11, scoring 15 of his 21 points from behind the arc. The shooting will be of increased importance, as a serious ankle sprain suffered in November has decreased his bounce.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe explosion to dunk I think is always going to be something he\u2019s going to have to deal with until the season is over,\u201d Adelman said. \u201cThat\u2019s one of those things that you\u2019re going to need to just not play basketball for a while, which is not going to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Johnson joins the fun<\/p>\n
Cam Johnson had his best moment as a Nugget in a big spot.<\/p>\n
It looked like an important win was all but out of reach after San Antonio led by six with fewer than 90 seconds to play. Then, Jokic kicked the ball out to Johnson, who knocked down a 3 as De\u2019Aaron Fox crashed into him. The free throw made it a two-point game, but Johnson couldn\u2019t really celebrate until he hit another 3 that put Denver up 131-127 with a couple of minutes left in overtime.<\/p>\n
The forward roared after Spurs coach Mitch Johson took a timeout, and Tim Hardaway Jr. and others rushed out to join Johnson\u2019s rare celebration.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s fun, man. That\u2019s what you play for, those moments right there where you feel the energy in the arena. You feel the energy from the bench,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cYou know I\u2019m not much of\u00a0a celebrator. You guys don\u2019t see me celebrate a bunch of 3s, but when the team gets hyped, that\u2019s a lot of fun.\u201d<\/p>\n
Standings watch<\/p>\n
The three seed is back in play.<\/p>\n
After beating the Spurs, Denver is only a half game behind the Lakers.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought it was probably the best win of the season mentally just to kind of stay with each other as they go on the runs they go on,\u201d the Nuggets coach said. \u201cThey\u2019re as talented as it gets.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Lakers own the tiebreaker over the Nuggets but will play the final five games of its regular season against the Mavericks, Thunder, Warriors, Suns and Jazz without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Denver closes with the Trail Blazers, Grizzlies, Thunder and Spurs. There\u2019s a chance Oklahoma City and San Antonio are already locked into their top-two seeds and rest players in Denver\u2019s final two games of the regular season.<\/p>\n
Heading into Sunday\u2019s lineup, Houston sits 1.5 games behind the Nuggets, while Minnesota is 3.5 games behind the Nuggets in sixth. The most important part for Denver is staying in the top four and having home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing the three seed doesn\u2019t necessarily mean the matchup is better or worse,\u201d Adelman said. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf we are the three, it means that we\u2019re moving in the right direction to end the season.\u201d<\/p>\n
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