Jokic Outduels Wembanyama as Nuggets Beat Spurs

Nikola Jokić and Victor Wembanyama put on a late‑season spectacle as the Nuggets beat the Spurs 136-134 in overtime. Jokić finished with 40 points, 13 assists, eight rebounds and three blocks; Wembanyama answered with 34, 18, seven and five. Wembanyama called the duel "amazing," and both teams showed playoff-level poise in a game that felt more like a series preview than a regular-season tilt. Merlin sees this as a portent. If San Antonio stays near the No. 2 seed and Denver locks a top-4 spot, a West semifinal between these two could be a generational clash: Jokić’s orchestration against Wembanyama’s length and versatility. Rest and seeding will shape whether fans get a rematch with full rosters, but the blueprint for a thrilling series is already on the court.