Game Thread Spurs (12-5) @ Nuggets (13-4) (Fri 11/28/25) [8:30PM CDT]

[Mugen]

Need a flukey game from 3 to have a chance tbh.

 

[spursparker9]

Yea...need four to five 3s from Grandpa Barnes and Champ respectively

 

[LeBowen]

We need to attack the rim relentlessly, hopefully we can do it with 48 minutes of Fox/Harper.

Nuggets rotation with these injuries has been Murray/Jones/Johnson/Watson/Jokic with Brown/THJ/Nnaji/Valanciunas off the bench.
I know Valanciunas always kills us, but we really need to take advantage of those bench minutes.
THJ getting hot is their only real bench impact on the perimeter.

 

[CrustyCoastBendFan]

Our best shot is if Jokic wakes up with a tummy ache. Let's Remember, the Kings took these guys down just two games ago, even with the Joker dropping 44. The Kings did it by running the Nuggets ragged in Denver. Hopefully Harper got one of those LEVEL up Lung Burns and can give us that Energy off the Bench with Keldon.

 

[scott]

for those unfamiliar:

his career averages are 13/9 on 56%

his career averages vs the spurs are 16/11 on 63%

I've for years advocated for trading for or signing Val for this very reason... so we don't have to play him anymore. Pop must have led a coup in his village back in the 70s or some shit

 

[spursistan]

We have actually been decimated by injuries to our key players, and yet zero peep from national media and Podcast NBA about how this team is 12-5 inspite of the injury bug hitting us the hardest in the West after Memphis.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1993921567642820805

 

[spursistan]

Being realistic here: only a Jokic injury or him being in foul trouble all game might give us a chance. Just wants a competitive game from our guys..

Gordan & Braun being out for them helps a bit

 

[Exstatic]

Being realistic here: only a Jokic injury or him being in foul trouble all game might give us a chance. Just wants a competitive game from our guys..

Gordan & Braun being out for them helps a bit

A bit? Those are their two best defenders. As stated in a post above, Sacto ran them out of their building, despite 44 from Jokic.

 

[spursistan]

A bit? Those are their two best defenders. As stated in a post above, Sacto ran them out of their building, despite 44 from Jokic.

if we had Castle, the gampleplan would be let Jokic score 60 and choke off the rest. I am more worried about his playmaking..

 

[spursistan]

Nope. Either win and win the group, or go home with a 2-2 record. Houston, Blazers and Warriors are all already eliminated.

Sounds like even if we won the Warriors game (2-point swing) we would still have to not lose by a lot against Denver to get the wild card as the Suns & OKC are already 3-0 and +35 and +71 in point differential compared to Spurs would-be +25..(they play each other next).

 

[LeBowen]

if we had Castle, the gampleplan would be let Jokic score 60 and choke off the rest. I am more worried about his playmaking..

We have Harper, hopefully he's good for 20 minutes.

The key is to attack Murray and make him work on defense. He's prone to getting frustrated and chucking on the other end.
Kornet needs to stay out of foul trouble, but Olynyk and Biyombo (I know, not optimal) should get as physical as possible with Jokic and foul the shit out of him.

 

[Robz4000]

We have Harper, hopefully he's good for 20 minutes.

The key is to attack Murray and make him work on defense. He's prone to getting frustrated and chucking on the other end.
Kornet needs to stay out of foul trouble, but Olynyk and Biyombo (I know, not optimal) should get as physical as possible with Jokic and foul the shit out of him.

Spurs have zero chance at doing anything to Jokic to slow him tbh. With Gordon and Braun out the best chance is to just go small and save Kornet for Big Val imo. Calling my shot again: this will be a Keldon and Sochan game.

 

[LeBowen]

Spurs have zero chance at doing anything to Jokic to slow him tbh. With Gordon and Braun out the best chance is to just go small and save Kornet for Big Val imo. Calling my shot again: this will be a Keldon and Sochan game.

If we go small he'll drop 40+ with ease.
If we go as physical as possible, we might hold him to 30ish points and those 10-15 points we can take away could be the difference maker.

 

[Robz4000]

If we go small he'll drop 40+ with ease.
If we go as physical as possible, we might hold him to 30ish points and those 10-15 points we can take away could be the difference maker.

Let Jokic drop 60 and hold everyone else to 40 tbh.

 

[LeBowen]

Let Jokic drop 60 and hold everyone else to 40 tbh.

Famous last words of a lot of teams that tried to do it.

 

[Robz4000]

Famous last words of a lot of teams that tried to do it.

might be their only chance tonight unfortunately

 

[Sugus]

I honestly see the Spurs giving the Nugs a very even fight, at least on 4 of 5 positions. Whether the team can slow down Jokic enough will make the difference.

I'm very interested in seeing how Harper and Fox perform tonight tbh, they may be the key to the game. Pressure the rim all game, fight for steals and transition play, and hope to make enough 3's to be even by the 4th quarter. Then Mr. Clutch Time player can earn his pay...

 

[scott]

We have Harper, hopefully he's good for 20 minutes.

The key is to attack Murray and make him work on defense. He's prone to getting frustrated and chucking on the other end.
Kornet needs to stay out of foul trouble, but Olynyk and Biyombo (I know, not optimal) should get as physical as possible with Jokic and foul the shit out of him.

I was just thinking this...

Game plan should be to just let Jokic run wild in the paint. Use Kornet, Olynyk and Biyombo to provide as much resistance as possible without having Kornet fouling out. Do not double on Jokic, do not let their guys get open looks from 3. Let's Jokic go off in the scoring column but try to limit his assists.

Crash the boards hard with Champ and Keldon like we've been doing.

On offense, attack them and hope we shoot the ball well.

The Kings didn't rely on the 3 to beat the Nuggets (only 10-30) but they shot 53% overall. Attack the rim with Fox, Harper and Keldon. Get Kornet those bunnies. Need Champ, Barnes and Vassell to hit from 3.

Kings were even in rebounds with Nuggets (38-37 for DEN). It was good ball movement (32 assists) and getting to the line (22-23 FTs for SAC) that got them there. Denver was still pretty dangerous from deep (14-37, 38%)... we need to limit that. Please do not let Cam Johnson, THJ, Murray and Watson tee off from 3 against us...

 

[LeBowen]

 

[NASpurs]

do not let their guys get open looks from 3

Lol

Easier said than done for this team.

 

[heyheymymy]

 

[heyheymymy]

the depth reload by DEN this offseason seems pretty impressive with Val, Cam Johnson, BB etc all real decent attempts to bolster. Nice work by the DEN FO to reopen their window potentially.

 

[Splits]

Spurs have zero chance at doing anything to Jokic to slow him tbh. With Gordon and Braun out the best chance is to just go small and save Kornet for Big Val imo. Calling my shot again: this will be a Keldon and Sochan game.

 

[WembyFan]

Nothing to lose here, no one expects them to win so might as well go out and play loose

 

[SpurSpike]

Where is this one broadcasting?