04/12/26 10:19:00
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04/12 22:18 CDT Jokic plays 1st half of Nuggets' game versus Spurs to qualify
for award eligibility while Wemby sits
Jokic plays 1st half of Nuggets' game versus Spurs to qualify for award
eligibility while Wemby sits
SAN ANTONIO (AP) --- Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic exited after playing the first
half of the Denver Nuggets' regular-season finale against San Antonio on Sunday
night for his 65th game played 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.
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.
"Yeah, he'll play the first half," Denver coach David 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."
Denver needs a victory over the Spurs on Sunday to secure the third seed in the
Western Conference. A Nuggets loss, coupled with a win by the Los Angeles
Lakers, would drop the Nuggets to fourth and move the Lakers to third.
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 is sitting out the game 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."
Spurs guard Stephon Castle was upgraded to available after missing the past two
games with a left foot soreness.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
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