Nikola Jokic scored 31 and Jamal Murray starred as the defending champion Nuggets crushed the Spurs at the Moody Center in Austin.
AUSTIN — Win or lose, and probably lose, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich knew his team would benefit from Friday’s meeting with the defending champion Denver Nuggets. “The good thing about playing the Nuggets is you get to play a championship team,” Popovich said. “You see what it takes. Some things you can’t match.” The matchless Nuggets gave the Spurs the next in a long line of those lessons, using a sizzling first quarter to ring up a 117-106 victory at the Moody Center in Austin.
With Gobert the favorite this year, Wembanyama eyes future Defensive Player of the Year awards Nikola Jokic led the way with 31 points, the only Denver player to record more than 15. It was the Spurs’ latest in what is expected to be a series of annual appearances in Austin. The Spurs went 1-1 in a pair of games at the Moody Center last season, and will face Brooklyn there Sunday. Prior to the game, Denver coach Michael Malone wondered aloud about how his team might approach the night.
The best Spurs coverage in Alamo City, delivered to your inbox Jeremy Sochan led the Spurs with 19 points. Victor Wembanyama struggled with his shot for most of his Austin debut, finishing 4 of 12. He ended with 17 points and nine rebounds with four blocks, breaking a string of nine consecutive double-doubles. Devin Vassell also scored 17 points and also struggled with his shot, finishing 6 of 13. Here are three takeaways from Friday’s loss, which dropped the Spurs to 14-53: 1.
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