Spurs overcome Nikola Jokic’s triple-double to top Nuggets 128-120

SAN ANTONIO(AP) — Keldon Johnson scored 23 points and the San Antonio Spursovercame 37 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists by Nikola Jokic tostun the Denver Nuggets 128-120 on Friday night.

DougMcDermott added 20 points and Jeremy Sochan had 19 points for SanAntonio, which shot 54% in a balanced effort with their entireroster available for one of only a few times in an injury-riddledseason.

It wasJokic’s 26th triple-double in what could be his third straight MVPseason.

Jamal Murrayadded 24 points for Denver, which lost its second straightfollowing a four-game winning streak. The Nuggets maintained theWestern Conference’s best record at 46-21, but fell 2 1/2 gamesbehind the Milwaukee Bucks for the league’s best record.

Denver hopedto rebound from an uncharacteristically sloppy outing in a 117-96loss at home to Chicago on Wednesday, but instead had one of theseason’s most deflating losses.

San Antonioentered having lost two straight and 18 of 20.

“When you getblown out at home, I think that’s an eye-opening experience,”Nuggets coach Michael Malone said before the game. “If you’re manenough, not that everybody is in this business, but if you’re manenough to look yourself in the mirror and be honest with yourself,I think we all realized, starting with me from all the way down 1through 17, we did not do our jobs against Chicago.

“So, you hopethe message is delivered.”

The messagewas lost, even as the Nuggets responded to a second-halfaltercation.

Spurs centerZach Collins and Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. were ejectedwith 6:57 remaining in the third quarter after having to beseparated by teammates, officials, and the coaching staffs.

After Collinsand Jokic had a series of hard bumps and shoves, Porter threw downa monstrous one-handed dunk on Collins. Porter glared and saidsomething to Collins, who responded by charging at and bumping himfrom behind. The two were nose-to-nose before Porter pushed Collinsin the throat.

Denverresponded with a 5-0 run to trail 85-84, but San Antonio never lostits lead in the second half.

TIP-INS

Nuggets:Denver has 15 games remaining, including 12 against teams thatcurrently qualify for the playoffs. ... C DeAndre Jordan has playedin just 35 games this season, which is on pace to be the fewest inhis 15-year career. His lowest total is 48 games, which he had lastseason while playing with the Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia76ers. ... Porter had seven points, one rebound and one assist in20 minutes when he was ejected.

Spurs: SanAntonio is 3-46 this season when trailing by double figures duringa game. The Spurs have trailed by double figures in 74% of theirgames this season. San Antonio is 1-35 when trailing by 15 points.... Romeo Langford was eligible for his second straight game aftermissing 17 consecutive games with left abductor tightness. ...Collins had 10 points, nine rebounds and three assists in 21minutes when he was ejected.

UPNEXT

Nuggets: HostBrooklyn on Sunday.

Spurs: HostOklahoma City on Sunday.