Jokic scores 23 points in 65th game for award eligibility as Nuggets top Spurs to claim No. 3 seed

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Nikola Jokic scored 23 points in the first half of his 65th game to become NBA award eligible and the Denver Nuggets beat the San Antonio Spurs 128-118 on Sunday night to secure the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.

Denver had seven players score in double figures, including Julian Strawther with 25 points and Jonas Valanciunas, who finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

De'Aaron Fox scored 24 points to lead San Antonio, which had a three-game winning streak snapped. Stephon Castle added 10 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists in his return from a two-game absence due to left foot soreness.

Spurs All-Star Victor Wembanyama, who reached award eligibility in his previous game, sat out as he recovers from a left rib contusion.

Jokic sat out the second half after going 7 for 12 from the field, with eight rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot in 18 minutes, 15 seconds.

Jokic was listed as questionable with an injured right wrist, but entered the finale having played in 64 games.

The NBA requires players to participate in 65 games to be eligible for MVP, All-NBA and Defensive Player of the Year honors. The NBA allows two exemptions of 15 to 19:59 minutes played to count as an official game. Jokic had one exemption remaining.

Denver (54-28) will host No. 6 Minnesota (48-33) in the opening round of the playoffs.

San Antonio, which matched the third-most victories in franchise history after going 62-20, will play the seventh seed, which will be determined by the winner of the first play-in game.

Denver went on a 22-0 run two minutes into the second quarter, holding San Antonio scoreless for 8:45 in building a 63-40 lead. Jokic had 11 points and Curtis Jones added 10 in the quarter.

Jones finished with 13 points.

Spurs rookie Carter Bryant had 13 points, including a dunk over Jokic, along with five rebounds, five assists and three blocks.

Nuggets: Host Minnesota on Saturday afternoon in opener of first-round playoff series.

Spurs: Host opener of first-round playoff series against the No. 7 seed on Sunday night.

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San Antonio Spurs forward Carter Bryant (11) dunks against Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) drives against Denver Nuggets guard Julian Strawther during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell shoots against Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic, left, Tyus Jones (5) and Jalen Pickett, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

San Antonio Spurs forward Carter Bryant (11) dunks over Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) passes as he is guarded by San Antonio Spurs center Mason Plumlee during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic exited after playing the first half of the Denver Nuggets' 128-118 victory against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night, making an appearance in his 65th game to qualify for NBA awards.

Jokic had 23 points, eight rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot while playing 18 minutes, 15 seconds in the first half of Denver's regular-season finale.

“I think he embraced it because how hard those guys were playing with him,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said. “There is a respect value there when he sees guys playing for opportunities. A guy like him who has done everything in this game, I think he respects that. I heard the ‘overrated’ (chant by Spurs fans). I don’t know about the overrated thing. He was on pace for 46 and 16, but anyway, it seemed like he had a good time out there.”

The NBA requires players to participate in 65 games to be eligible for MVP, All-NBA and Defensive Player of the Year honors. The NBA allows two exemptions of 15 to 19:59 minutes played to count as an official game. Jokic had one exemption remaining.

Jokic was listed as questionable with an injured right wrist, but entered the finale having played in 64 games.

Jokic did not speak to reporters after the game, exiting the locker room after grabbing his belongings.

Denver secured the No. 3 seed and will host Minnesota at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the opening round of the playoffs.

The Nuggets set a franchise record with their 26th road victory and did so while executing their game plan for Jokic.

“Yeah, he’ll play the first half,” Adelman said before tipoff. “Then we’ll reconvene at halftime and see where he’s at, where the game’s at. It’s what the rules provide. So we’ll follow the rules.”

Jokic, who won MVP in 2021, 2022 and 2024, has been named to the All-NBA Team in seven of his 11 seasons.

Spurs All-Star Victor Wembanyama sat out after reaching eligibility in his previous game.

Wembanyama qualified for award eligibility by playing in his 65th game Friday, in San Antonio's 139-120 victory over Dallas.

Wembanyama competed in 64 regular-season games in addition to the NBA Cup Final, which does not count toward regular-season record or statistics, but does qualify as a game played.

Wembanyama suffered a left rib contusion and missed the second half of Monday's 115-102 victory against the Philadelphia 76ers. He returned Friday to post 40 points and 13 rebounds in 26:13 minutes against Dallas.

He was listed as questionable due to injury management and was ruled out after the Spurs' afternoon walkthrough.

“Yeah, he’s doing well, but just a little sore and felt it was the appropriate decision,” San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson said. “He was probably, to be honest, the closest call of the group, but just right in that kind of in between.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

San Antonio Spurs forward Carter Bryant (11) dunks against Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell shoots against Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic, left, Tyus Jones (5) and Jalen Pickett, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) passes as he is guarded by San Antonio Spurs center Mason Plumlee during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, left, looks to pass the ball as Memphis Grizzlies forward Toby Okani defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić pulls in a loose ball in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)