NBA: Spurs maintain lead to beat short-handed Nuggets
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle dunks the ball for a basket against the Denver Nuggets in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Stephon Castle, one of seven San Antonio players to score in double figures, produced 15 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists as the visiting Spurs beat the short-handed Denver Nuggets 113-106 in the NBA on Wednesday night.
San Antonio’s 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 and Malaki Branham had 13 for the Spurs (32-44).
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.
ReAD: NBA: Warriors dismantle Spurs, move up in West playoff race
Russell Westbrook had a season-high 30 points and 11 rebounds. Jalen Pickett added 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.
San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes, center, looks to pass the ball as Denver Nuggets forwards Zeke Nnaji, left, and Spencer Jones defend in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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
