SAN ANTONIO (AP) \u2014 Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic exited after playing the first half of the Denver Nuggets\u2019 regular-season finale against San Antonio on Sunday night for his 65th game played to qualify for NBA awards.<\/p>\n
Jokic had 23 points, eight rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot while playing 18 minutes, 15 seconds in the first half.<\/p>\n
The NBA requires players to participate in 65 games to be eligible for MVP, All-NBA and Defensive Player of the Year honors. The NBA allows two exemptions of 15 to 19:59 minutes played to count as an official game. Jokic had one exemption remaining.<\/p>\n
Jokic was listed as questionable with an injured right wrist, but entered the finale having played in 64 games.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, he\u2019ll play the first half,\u201d Denver coach David Adelman said before tipoff. \u201cThen we\u2019ll reconvene at halftime and see where he\u2019s at, where the game\u2019s at. It\u2019s what the rules provide. So we\u2019ll follow the rules.\u201d<\/p>\n
Denver needs a victory over the Spurs on Sunday to secure the third seed in the Western Conference. A Nuggets loss, coupled with a win by the Los Angeles Lakers, would drop the Nuggets to fourth and move the Lakers to third.<\/p>\n
Jokic, who won MVP in 2021, 2022 and 2024, has been named to the All-NBA Team in seven of his 11 seasons.<\/p>\n
Spurs All-Star Victor Wembanyama is sitting out the game after reaching eligibility in his previous game.<\/p>\n
Wembanyama qualified for award eligibility by playing in his 65th game Friday, in San Antonio\u2019s 139-120 victory over Dallas<\/a>.<\/p>\n Wembanyama competed in 64 regular-season games in addition to the NBA Cup Final, which does not count toward regular-season record or statistics, but does qualify as a game played.<\/p>\n