For three quarters, the San Antonio Spurs, missing their star Victor Wembanyama, played like a well-oiled machine. They dominated the passing lanes, forced the Denver Nuggets into difficult shots, and attacked the basket with ease.
But against a formidable duo like Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, three quarters of excellence just isn’t enough. To topple an NBA Title contender without your best player, you need a full 48 minutes of near-flawless basketball.
The game took a dramatic turn late in the third quarter. Jokic was hit with an illegal screen call on Stephon Castle, prompting a fiery response from Nuggets' coach David Adelman, who received a technical foul for his troubles.
This seemed to ignite the Nuggets, who began to gain favor with the referees. Without Wembanyama patrolling the paint, Denver found their rhythm inside, and the momentum shifted rapidly.
In the fourth quarter, the Spurs fell into old habits that have cost them leads earlier in the season. Turnovers mounted, the Nuggets capitalized with fast breaks, and San Antonio lost control of the paint. The game slipped away in a heartbeat.
While the loss stings, it’s not the end of the world for the Spurs. Denver is a powerhouse, and San Antonio was just a few unlucky bounces away from a major upset without their star.
This game serves as a crucial lesson: in the playoffs, there’s no room for lapses. It demands 48 minutes of relentless, near-perfect execution.
Takeaways:
Stephon Castle is blossoming into a star right before our eyes. He recorded his third triple-double of the season, dropping 30 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and dishing out 10 assists.
Notably, Castle shot 4-8 from beyond the arc. While his season average from deep is 31.2%, he’s been hitting 40.5% of his threes since the All-Star break.
Whether it’s a hot streak or genuine improvement, when Castle is a threat from deep, the Spurs' offense becomes significantly more potent.
Harrison Barnes made a strong return from injury, contributing 20 points off the bench on 6-10 shooting. His jump shot was sharp, and he provided San Antonio with a reliable wing option who can create off the dribble. As the playoffs approach, getting Barnes into form is crucial, and Thursday was a promising step forward.
Carter Bryant continues to turn heads. In just 9 minutes against Denver, he scored 10 points. Though he occasionally looks awkward, especially when driving to the basket, his finishing at the rim has improved, and he’s hitting 37.8% of his three-pointers post-All-Star break.
Mason “Plumdog Millionaire” Plumlee, the Spurs’ newest addition, had a quiet but solid outing. He recorded two rebounds and two steals, with a neutral plus/minus of 0.
Plumlee fits seamlessly into the Spurs' system as a third big. He excels in dribble handoffs, sets effective screens, and holds his own defensively.