Game Thread Spurs (62-19)vs Nuggets (53-28) (Sunday 4/12/26) [7:30PM CDT]

[STAT88]

Nuggets sitting everybody but joker is questionable

https://twitter.com/x/status/2043083581874975087

It’s official Nuggets want the 4 seed.

 

[scott]

It’s official Nuggets want the 4 seed.

The Lakers have a chance to do the funniest thing… and honestly… they might. Everyone is (justifiably) writing them off, but they probably aren’t planning on just quitting. They may prefer a R1 matchup with HOU over MIN

 

[spurraider21]

Thanks sr! Jokic will play his 20 and they’ll sit him. Honestly, we don’t need Wemby or Castle to win this one.

He actually only needs 15. I say we play Wemby and just have him match Jokić‘s minutes. even if we rest castle and one or two other guys, the rest of our team should smash the remains of Denver‘s roster.

 

[STAT88]

The Lakers have a chance to do the funniest thing

You know what the Lakers have a better chance of beating the Rockets than the Wolves without Doncic and Reaves. So in a vacuum losing to Utah and dropping to 4 is an option.

But ultimately I think staying away from the OKC bracket is the better option for them if you’re trying to win the ring.

 

[scott]

He actually only needs 15. I say we play Wemby and just have him match Jokić‘s minutes. even if we rest castle and one or two other guys, the rest of our team should smash the remains of Denver‘s roster.

Just read this and was just about to come edit my comment.

Mason Plumlee legacy game loading

 

[scott]

You know what the Lakers have a better chance of beating the Rockets than the Wolves without Doncic and Reaves. So in a vacuum losing to Utah and dropping to 4 is an option.

But ultimately I think staying away from the OKC bracket is the better option for them if you’re trying to win the ring.

Can’t win a ring if you lose in the R1 though… interesting choice for the Lakers. If I were them, I’d drop to 4 and hope Luka’s stem cell therapy in Spain gets him back by Game 4 against Houston.

 

[spursistan]

So Nuggets are that much spooked by the Wolves match-up? I think it is true that they are more dangerous than the Rockets but I didn't expect Nuggets to come off like they are desperately trying to duck them.

 

[spurraider21]

We’re winning

https://twitter.com/x/status/2043088331068555332

 

[LeBowen]

So Nuggets are that much spooked by the Wolves match-up? I think it is true that they are more dangerous than the Rockets but I didn't expect Nuggets to come off like they are desperately trying to duck them.

The Nuggets know that if they're to win it all, they have to beat the Thunder, no other way around.
It's better for them to have an easier matchup in the first round and then be fresh for the Thunder series than to have to beat both Timberwolves and Spurs in exhausting series while the Thunder gets two easy matchups.
They're basically choosing to play Thunder first and the Spurs after that instead of the other way and I'd say that's the right choice for them.

The only thing that doesn't allign in this equation is the Lakers, I'm not sure why would they want the 3rd seed, I can see them wanting to stay 4th.

What's the tie-breaker for the Kings and the Jazz? They're 2-2 and if the Jazz can't stay below the Kings even if they lose, then they might just blow out the Lakers for the sake of it.

 

[spursistan]

Can’t win a ring if you lose in the R1 though… interesting choice for the Lakers. If I were them, I’d drop to 4 and hope Luka’s stem cell therapy in Spain gets him back by Game 4 against Houston.

They are not out-tanking the Jazz who have Top 4 lottery odds on the line.

 

[STAT88]

Can’t win a ring if you lose in the R1 though… interesting choice for the Lakers. If I were them, I’d drop to 4 and hope Luka’s stem cell therapy in Spain gets him back by Game 4 against Houston.

I’d stay at 3 to avoid getting stomped 4-0 or 4-1 by OKC in round 2 even with Luka and Reaves. Even if it means higher chance of losing in round 1 and not even getting there.

 

[STAT88]

The Nuggets know that if they're to win it all, they have to beat the Thunder, no other way around.
It's better for them to have an easier matchup in the first round and then be fresh for the Thunder series than to have to beat both Timberwolves and Spurs in exhausting series while the Thunder gets two easy matchups.
They're basically choosing to play Thunder first and the Spurs after that instead of the other way and I'd say that's the right choice for them.

The only thing that doesn't allign in this equation is the Lakers, I'm not sure why would they want the 3rd seed, I can see them wanting to stay 4th.

What's the tie-breaker for the Kings and the Jazz? They're 2-2 and if the Jazz can't stay below the Kings even if they lose, then they might just blow out the Lakers for the sake of it.

Don’t think tie breakers matter for lottery order. It’s a coin flip.

 

[spursistan]

The Nuggets know that if they're to win it all, they have to beat the Thunder, no other way around.
It's better for them to have an easier matchup in the first round and then be fresh for the Thunder series than to have to beat both Timberwolves and Spurs in exhausting series while the Thunder gets two easy matchups.
They're basically choosing to play Thunder first and the Spurs after that instead of the other way and I'd say that's the right choice for them.

The only thing that doesn't allign in this equation is the Lakers, I'm not sure why would they want the 3rd seed, I can see them wanting to stay 4th.

What's the tie-breaker for the Kings and the Jazz? They're 2-2 and if the Jazz can't stay below the Kings even if they lose, then they might just blow out the Lakers for the sake of it.

I think it is coin toss for lottery so zero chance the shameless Jazz win tomorrow especially when Top 4 odds are on the line.

 

[LeBowen]

You guys are right, I forgot about the coin toss.

 

[scott]

Jazz just got out-tanked less than 24 hours ago. It’s a tall task, but not an impossible one… but yeah, I’d say it’s about a 90+% chance Lakers win that game

 

[eric365]

The Lakers have a chance to do the funniest thing…

Lakers might want to lose the game but might not achieve it

Jazz have way more tanking skills

 

[DTW]

So Nuggets are that much spooked by the Wolves match-up? I think it is true that they are more dangerous than the Rockets but I didn't expect Nuggets to come off like they are desperately trying to duck them.

It's probably more so about the road in general than it is the Timberwolves specifically.

Three tough rounds just to reach the Finals is probably too big an ask for anyone not named Thunder.

 

[Mugen]

After how many injuries they've had this year, I could see Denver legitimately just not wanting anybody to get hurt before the playoffs tbh.

 

[wEmBoY]

Nuggets sitting everybody but joker is questionable

https://twitter.com/x/status/2043083581874975087

This means can seat one of their core players(wemby, castle, fox and harper).

 

[ginobilized]

I guess we will know more tomorrow night. I'd guess we rest Wemby, Kornet, Castle and maybe Vassell and let the youngsters and the oldsters win it. Would be hilarious if the Spurs decide to lose it while the Nuggets are trying to lose.

That leaves us with likely PHX in Round 1 and MIN in Round 2. Both those series will put some hair on the chests of our youth squad.

 

[Robz4000]

We’re winning

https://twitter.com/x/status/2043088331068555332

If Wemby also sits I think they lose without Kornet unless Jokic does sit out. He'll put up 32/28/14 in 20 minutes against Plumdog/Biyombo/Okynk tbh.

 

[spurraider21]

After how many injuries they've had this year, I could see Denver legitimately just not wanting anybody to get hurt before the playoffs tbh.

This is it. I think Jokić plays 15-16 minutes tops

 

[spurraider21]

If Wemby also sits I think they lose without Kornet unless Jokic does sit out. He'll put up 32/28/14 in 20 minutes against Plumdog/Biyombo/Okynk tbh.

I think we’d win even without wemby. The nuggets don’t have a supporting cast that would support 14 Jokić assists. And Jokic himself will likely check out after 15-20 min anyway. We’d just double/swarm him every time and force guys we’ve never heard of to beat us

But imo we should play wemby and just have him march Jokers minutes and no more.

 

[NotRobDiaz21]

Watch the Lakers tank the Jazz game

 

[bozhemoi]

Dunno what the Lakers want to do. I definitely want Denver over on OKC's side. They both top the list of teams that can take the Spurs the most, plus Denver would give Thunder far more problems than the Lake Show. Much, much, much rather see Denver Okc in the second round while we play Minnesota.