Spurs maintain lead to beat short-handed Nuggets

Field Level Media|published: Wed 2nd April, 23:47 2025

NBA: San Antonio Spurs at Denver Nuggets

Apr 2, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul (3) attempts a shot under pressure from Denver Nuggets guard Trey Alexander (23) and forward Zeke Nnaji (22) in the second quarter at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Stephon Castle had 15 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, one of seven San Antonio players to score in double figures, and the visiting Spurs beat the short-handed Denver Nuggets 113-106 on Wednesday night.

Harrison Barnes scored 20 points. Sandro Mamukelashvili contributed 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Chris Paul added 17 points and eight assists. Blake Wesley scored 15 points, and Julian Champagnie finished with 14 for San Antonio (32-45).

Denver (47-30) was without six of its top seven players a night after a double-overtime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Nikola Jokic (left ankle), Jamal Murray (right hamstring), Aaron Gordon (right calf), Christian Braun (left foot), Peyton Watson (right knee) and Michael Porter Jr. (personal) were not active.

Russell Westbrook had a career-high 30 points and 11 rebounds. Jalen Pickett had 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists for his first career triple-double, Hunter Tyson scored 18 points, and DeAndre Jordan finished with 10 points and 17 rebounds for the Nuggets.

Denver opened the fourth quarter with eight straight points to take its first lead, 93-88 lead. San Antonio responded with a 13-2 run, the Nuggets scored the next four points and had a chance to tie but Westbrook missed a layup.

Wesley and Mamukelashvili extended the lead to six again, Pickett made a layup but the Spurs held on to end their five-game losing streak.

San Antonio led 71-57 early in the third quarter when Denver made a run. Tyson hit two 3-pointers and Westbrook made one during a 12-2 spurt that made it 73-69. The Spurs stretched their advantage to 86-79 late in the period, but the Nuggets closed the quarter strong and cut it to 88-85 on Vlatko Cancar's 3-pointer at the horn.

San Antonio raced out to a 33-23 lead after the first quarter and pushed the advantage to as much as 20 in the second.

Denver made a run in the final 3:48 of halftime. Westbrook hit four free throws, Pickett drained two 3-pointers and Zeke Nnaji made another from deep to close within 66-54 at intermission.

--Field Level Media