Jokic's career night can't push Nuggets past Spurs

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On the back of another career night for Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets nearly fought all the way back from a 16-point third-quarter deficit, but ultimately fell to the Kawhi Leonard-led Spurs 118-104.

Jokic scored a career-high 35 points on 14-22 shooting, registered 12 rebounds and four assists as the second-year center wrapped up his third-straight game of at least 29 points and 11 rebounds.

After a competitive opening two quarters where San Antonio looked vulnerable, Denver led by one entering halftime. But a 15-0 Spurs run to start the third quarter put San Antonio up 16 in the opening minutes of the second half.

However, Denver, behind Jokic, battled back.

10-straight points from Jokic including back-to-back threes got the Nuggets to within eight points with just under six minutes left in the fourth. Then, Leonard took over down the stretch.

A back-breaking Leonard three with 2:12 remaining but the Spurs up by 12, 115-103. Denver couldn’t recover as the Nuggets dropped their eighth-straight game to San Antonio.

Elsewhere for Denver, Will Barton scored 18 points on 5-12 shooting to go with seven assists. Jamal Murray scored 13 points off the bench but did so on just 4-15 shooting. Jameer Nelson also had an off night scoring just five points on 2-7 shooting in 27 minutes.

Who else but Jokic carried Denver through the first two quarters. The Nuggets trailed 58-59 at the half but it wouldn’t have been that close if it wasn’t for Jokic. The big man scored 17 points on 6-7 shooting, grabbed four rebounds and dished out four assists in 22 first-half minutes. The rest of Denver’s starters combined to go 7-23 for just 23 points over the first and second quarters.

Jamal Murray, who has been in a slump as of late, scored 11 points in the first half on 3-8 shooting. The rookie went 2-6 from three but couldn’t get things going after halftime finishing with just two points the rest of the way.

For San Antonio, Dejounte Murray, who started for an injured Tony Parker, scored 24 points on 7-11 shooting, cutting up an ineffective Emmanuel Mudiay all night. Manu Ginobili scored 14 points on 6-11 shooting off the bench. LaMarcus Aldridge was limited to just ten points on 4-9 shooting.

The loss ends a three-game Nuggets winning streak.

Postgame video

Malone on Jokic: "Whether it's playmaking, scoring, rebounding, he's a terrific young talent who's only getting better before our eyes." pic.twitter.com/HmktMwnqH8

— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) January 20, 2017

Malone on Dejounte Murray, who scored a career-high 24 points, (his previous high was 10) & carved up Emmanuel Mudiay & the Nuggets tonight pic.twitter.com/FjT7UA3BkO

— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) January 20, 2017

Miller on Jokic: "I don't think he realizes (how good he is) & it's my job and the rest of these guys' job to make sure he does realize it" pic.twitter.com/Vm7GykFaum

— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) January 20, 2017

Footnotes

Spurs coach Greg Popovich was ejected with a little under two minutes remaining in the first half and the Nuggets leading 52-51 for arguing with an official.

Pau Gasol suffered an injury during warm-ups – X-rays taken revealed a fracture of his left fourth metacarpal. A timetable for his return has not been established. David Lee started in Gasol’s place and scored 10 points on 5-7 shooting.

What’s next

The Nuggets come home for a game Saturday against the Clippers at Pepsi Center. Los Angeles is without Chris Paul (thumb), who’s out 6-8 weeks and Blake Griffin (knee), who is still 1-2 weeks away from returning.