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Nuggets' Late Surge Not Enough: San Antonio Spurs Clinch Nail-Biter

The Denver Nuggets, with a record of 57-25, faced off against the San Antonio Spurs, who held a record of 22-60. In a game that kept fans on the edge of their seats, the final score read 121-120 in favor of the home team.


SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 12:  Sandro Mamukelashvili #54 of the San Antonio Spurs  goes to the basket during the game on April 12, 2024 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Nuggets started strong with an impressive first quarter performance scoring 31 points but were outdone by the Spurs' 32. The second quarter saw Denver take control and outscore San Antonio by a significant margin, putting up 37 points to their opponent's 18. After halftime, both teams came out with renewed energy; however, it was the Nuggets who maintained their momentum scoring another solid 32 points in the third quarter. Despite leading for over half an hour and having a biggest lead of 23 points during the game, Denver could not maintain their dominance in the fourth quarter where they scored only 20 points compared to San Antonio's robust comeback with 34.


Denver showcased balanced team play with nine steals and four blocks while also dishing out an impressive total of 31 assists. Their shooting from beyond the arc was decent at a rate of thirty-six percent accuracy which contributed to thirteen three-pointers made during playtime. Inside scoring was also strong for Denver as they made sixty percent of their two-point attempts resulting in sixty paint points.


SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 12: Zach Collins #23 of the San Antonio Spurs shots over Reggie Jackson #7 of the Denver Nuggets in the first half at Frost Bank Center on April 12, 2024 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)

On individual performances for Denver, bench players added valuable support chipping in thirty-one bench points while maintaining efficiency on court throughout four hours of playtime despite ending up slightly negative on plus-minus at minus one overall.


Conversely, The Spurs demonstrated resilience and capitalized on fast break opportunities converting sixty-two percent into twenty-one fast break points. They dominated rebounding with fifty-seven total rebounds including eleven offensive boards which led to eighteen second-chance points—a key factor that helped them stay close throughout this tightly contested matchup.


SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 12:  Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots a 3-point basket during the game  on April 12, 2024 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)

As both teams fought hard down to every possession evidenced by eighteen lead changes and seven instances where scores were tied; it was ultimately The Spurs who edged past thanks to superior shooting percentages across all categories including fifty-three percent from field goals and seventy percent from free throw line coupled with higher efficiency rating at one hundred forty-one compared to Nuggets' one hundred thirty.


Looking ahead after this nail-biting encounter between these two Western Conference adversaries; fans can catch The Denver Nuggets next as they travel to face Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum located in Memphis TN on April fourteen scheduled for half-past one PM local time broadcasted live via BSSE and ALT networks ensuring supporters won't miss any action from this upcoming contest.

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