By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
In the finale of the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season at Frost Bank Center, the Denver Nuggets secured a 128-118 victory over the San Antonio Spurs to clinch the Western Conference’s third seed heading to the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google.
Serbian superstar Nikola Jokic entered the contest needing 15 minutes of action to satisfy the league’s 65-game eligibility requirement for the season-ending awards. Playing only the first half under the direction of head coach David Adelman, the Sombor native delivered 23 points, eight rebounds, and a block in just 18 minutes. With this performance, the Joker became the first player in history to lead the league in both rebounds and assists per game in a single season. Supporting the effort, Lithuanian backup big Jonas Valanciunas provided a robust double-double, tallying 16 points and 11 rebounds in 19 minutes of play.
The San Antonio Spurs competed without French sensation Victor Wembanyama, who was downgraded to out shortly before tipoff. After meeting the 65-game criteria just two days prior, the star center sat out due to left ribcage soreness. Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson emphasized that while the Frenchman is in the best shape of his career, the decision was a precaution to manage the physical toll of a competitive season ahead of Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, at crypto.com Arena, the Los Angeles Lakers secured a dominant 131-107 win over the Utah Jazz, though the Nuggets‘ victory ultimately relegated them to the fourth seed. The European rotation was limited to Germany’s Maxi Kleber, who contributed two points and six rebounds, as Slovenian star Luka Doncic remained sidelined with a hamstring strain.
The visitors missed both Finland’s Lauri Markkanen and Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Jusuf Nurkic due to injuries, while Ukraine’s Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk did not see action.