Game Thread: Spurs (31-44) @ Nuggets (47-29) -- Wed. 4/02/2025 -- 8:00pm CST (4:00am Riga; 3:00pm Hawaii)

[BatManu20]

Quick turnaround as we're in Denver tonight to take on a Nuggets team that is coming off a crushing 2OT loss last night thanks their retarded PG Russell Westbrick. Watching him single-handedly torpedo Denver's victory last night was hard to watch tbh. That game going into 2OT likely means the Nuggets will rest some of their guys tonight though. Not good for the tank tbh. Hopefully we still get this L, but I'm not holding my breath as the Nuggets are a pretty shitty team outside of Jokic.

1907444718809592055

[BatManu20]

1907305897191260234

[Splits]

1907305897191260234

:lmao

[Ice009]

Anyone remember Manu in game 7 against the Detroit Pistons. Manu had a chance to dunk the ball at the very end of the game, but instead, he passed up the wide open dunk and he chose to run the shot clock down instead. That was in a game 7 of a pressure packed game/series against one of the greatest defensive teams ever (apart from the Spurs' great defensive teams themselves). Manu had the BBIQ to do that in that pressure packed situation. Has Russell ever made those kinds of decisions (I haven't watched him much to know)?

This was just a regular season game. I just don't know if you can trust Russell in the playoffs. What was Jokic thinking of when he asked the Nuggets to sign him (I think it was Jokic that wanted the Nuggets to sign him, wasn't it?)? Is it becuase the Nuggets were desperate for talent that Jokic thought it's worth taking a chance on Westbrook as a high risk/high reward type of move that doesn't cost much? We'll see how it plays out, but it's partially on Jokic if it doesn't work out.

[scott]

Well at least we get to watch Jokic.

[spurraider21]

:lol spurs worried jokic might not play, need to preserve the tank

1907510087129743568

[BatManu20]

Spurs know Jokic is likely out so they're going all out as well :lol

[scott]

Nice that we we got to see Bassey for a whole 5 minutes before he went out for another series of games :lol

[LeBowen]

Damn, we actually might win it without net negatives Jeremy and Devin.

[heyheymymy]

pretend to be cripple for nipple

:flag:

[spurraider21]

pretend to be cripple for nipple

:flag:
:lol

[Jordan Jackson]

That’s why I’ll maintain Vassell/Sochan/Johnson need to be moved. You can’t fix low BBIQ players no matter how physically talented they may be.

Westbrook is talented and never takes plays off but he’s a complete basketball moron. No notion of late game situations and time. He never improved in that area.

[scott]

Yikes... Jokic, Murray, MPJ, Gordon, Braun all out. Peyton Watson questionable.

This game is a Christmas Gift for all of those who love NBA Preseason Basketball

[BatManu20]

Yikes... Jokic, Murray, MPJ, Gordon, Braun all out. Peyton Watson questionable.

This game is a Christmas Gift for all of those who love NBA Preseason Basketball

Yea as I predicted in the OP. This will be a W for the Spurs unfortunately. Terrible for the tank. Hopefully Dallas beats ATL at least.

[LeBowen]

Time for Castle to solidify his ROTY case, tbh.

[Guru of Nothing]

Calling it: Castle for 50/15/15 tonight.

[NASpurs]

:lol @ at the players to watch. I guess if it was 2015.

8:00 PM




https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nba/500/scoreboard/sa.png&scale=crop&cquality=40&location=origin&w=64&h=64 (https://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/sa/san-antonio-spurs)Spurs
(https://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/sa/san-antonio-spurs)
(31-4411-24Away)
https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nba/500/scoreboard/den.png&scale=crop&cquality=40&location=origin&w=64&h=64 (https://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/den/denver-nuggets)Nuggets
(https://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/den/denver-nuggets)
(47-2925-13Home)




Ball Arena
Denver, CO


PLAYERS TO WATCH


https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/nba/players/full/2779.png&h=80&w=80&scale=crop

C. Paul#3 - SA

8.7PPG
3.6RPG
7.5APG



(https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2779/chris-paul)

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/nba/players/full/3468.png&h=80&w=80&scale=crop

R. Westbrook#4 - DEN

13.1PPG
5.0RPG
6.2APG



(https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3468/russell-westbrook)

[Dex]

1907305897191260234


:lmao

If you don't love him at his Worstbrook, you don't deserve him at his Bestbrook :lol

Russ has actually had a great resurgence this season, so good for him, I guess. Never been a fan of him myself.

Something about him just rubs me the wrong way. This is exactly the type of shit he will pull to lose you a playoff game or two, and that may be the difference in their season.

[TDomination]

this is the kind of game where you should be able to have courtside seats for $50

[mystargtr34]

This game could easily be the difference for the Nuggets between getting 2-4 seed and home court in first round or dropping to 5 and having to play the Warriors on the road. Nuggets have the warriors next who are only 2 losses behind.

[LeBowen]

Imagine buying tickets for this game. :lol

7th best odds aren't happening, tbh.

[baseline bum]

Damnit why are the Spurs resting their best tank commander. Denver minus Jokic is probably the worst team in the league.

[ginobilized]

Am I trippin' or is Jordan McLaughlin playing?
Will this be a replay of Devonte Graham's game-winner last season?

[ginobilized]

Sizzlin' Seniors do not believe in diversity apparently
Unless you count off-white

[Ice009]

Darn, I don't really want to see the Spurs screw the Nuggets season again. Didn't the Spurs win at the end of last season lose the Nuggets the first seed? That could have been the difference for them winning the Championship last year or at least making the finals if they were in Dallas' bracket.

[Dex]

Darn, I don't really want to see the Spurs screw the Nuggets season again. Didn't the Spurs win at the end of last season lose the Nuggets the first seed? That could have been the difference for them winning the Championship last year or at least making the finals if they were in Dallas' bracket.

With the lineup they are putting out there, the Nuggets are accepting the loss on this one.

[Dex]

This Nuggets lineup is making Branham look good :lmao

[LeBowen]

Mitch needs to stop with these timeouts whenever Nuggets make a run.

[Larry O]

This looks like a rinse and repeat of last night's game. The Nuggs just keep chipping away at the score. It's still plenty of time in this game for the Nuggs to make a run as they are doing in the middle of the 3rd quarter to get past the Spurs in the 4th quarter. For the tank, GDG! :)

[LeBowen]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVjLFaZhyKM

Let's go, Russ!

[Larry O]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVjLFaZhyKM

Let's go, Russ!

Here come the Nuggets! :)

[heyheymymy]

Wesley

13 pts

4-5 fg
3-3 3pm
2-4 ft

[Dex]

Rooting for the loss here, but still frustrating when our guys chase the ball like fucking 5-year olds instead of actually sticking with their assignment and just leave shooters wide open.

[Larry O]

I hope Steph works on his shooting and his game this summer. Not good, not good.

[CorrectCrusader]

Lol I dare y'all to watch our players on defense just staring at the ball regardless of where the ball is on the court

[Guru of Nothing]

Believe, Nuggets.

[CorrectCrusader]

Branham is so dogshit lol if we pick up his 5th year option this off season

[BatManu20]

God these nuggets scrubs are such dog shit. How the fuck are these guys even bench players in the NBA :lol

[CorrectCrusader]

Blake has got to get stronger or heavier, he just gets bitched against stronger players.

[rascal]

Champagnie needs to be out of the rotation next year.

[LeBowen]

Westbrook with another easy layup miss. :lmao

[BatManu20]

Fucking Westbrook cheeses another goddamn layup in a racial situation smh.

[Robz4000]

Jesus Christ Westbrick is awful

[BatManu20]

What the fuck is Westbrook doing. He just launched the ball into the fifth row on what I'm assuming was a pass attempt.

[scott]

No Spurs No!

Hell is watching Russell Westbrook do an endless layup drill

[rascal]

Castle with a smart play to knock the ball for a basket.

[baseline bum]

Ugh blew their draft position and didn't even get a good shooting game out of Castle. Wish Jokic would have played ten minutes.

[Robz4000]

God damnit, didn't need this W tbh.

[CorrectCrusader]

Well, fun to watch at least

[BatManu20]

CP3 ruining the tank when this faggot should've been cut weeks ago :lol

[cutewizard]

Whoa another win hahahaah

[cutewizard]

Keep Wesley

Release Branham

[rascal]

Can't win many more if they want to stay ahead of Portland

[LeBowen]

Can't win many more if they want to stay ahead of Portland

Just need to lose in Portland and we're good.

[mystargtr34]

Fuck sake.

Now we need Blazers to win again to keep that 2 game lead in the win column. You know the Spurs are too stupid to lose the last game against the Raptors and they’ll probably beat the blazers which would put them level on wins.

Luckily blazers have some easy games coming up and are still in contention for the last playin spot.

[BatManu20]

Castle's shooting seems to be regressing back to his early-season form down the back stretch of the season. At this point the season needs to just end before he fucks around and gives away his ROY tbh (unlikely I know but still).

[onechance87]

yea dumb win...especially if there is a slight chance raptors can pass us in the standings so we can
get to 7th.

[CorrectCrusader]

Castle's shooting seems to be regressing back to his early-season form down the back stretch of the season. At this point the season needs to just end before he fucks around and gives away his ROY tbh (unlikely I know but still).

There's like 8 games left. Not happening.

[rascal]

Just need to lose in Portland and we're good.

Portland may be out of the play in by then and they are good at tanking.

[LakerHater]

fells like early in the 3rd they didnt count 1 of castle's assist to Mamu

[SPURt]

Mamu is something else

[Dex]

Mamu is something else

Should have been playing more earlier in the season but I guess we had to showcase Zach Collins' dumb ass and Chicago took the bait

[poopbox]

Should have been playing more earlier in the season but I guess we had to showcase Zach Collins' dumb ass and Chicago took the bait

Chicago was going to take whatever player we gave them so they could get the lottery protections removed from their pick.

[Ice009]

Man, the more I look at it, what were the Spurs thinking winning this game. I wanted them to play hard and all that, but these last 10 or so games, a bit more strategy would have been nice. Spurs had a decent shot of catching the Raptors for 7th before winning this one.
They've also screwed the Nuggets over who could now lose homecourt advantage in round one. I would have thought the Spurs respect the Nuggets over teams like the Lakers to try and help them get a higher seed.

[Dex]

Man, the more I look at it, what were the Spurs thinking winning this game. I wanted them to play hard and all that, but these last 10 or so games, a bit more strategy would have been nice. Spurs had a decent shot of catching the Raptors for 7th before winning this one.
They've also screwed the Nuggets over who could now lose homecourt advantage in round one. I would have thought the Spurs respect the Nuggets over teams like the Lakers to try and help them get a higher seed.

It's not always as easy as being like "okay team, let's make sure to lose this game!" Players play to win.

Many of these guys are playing for their next contract or to audition for other teams, especially guys like Champ, Mamu, Biyombo, Wesley, Branham...they are trying to prove they belong in the league because they got no guarantees that the Spurs will be keeping them around. They are playing to keep their own career alive, they don't care if we drop some percentage points in the lottery.

Couple that with the fact that the Nuggets put out a GLeague team being led by Westbrick, and yeah...what should have been a scheduled L turned into a W. It's more surprising for the Nuggets because they are still angling for playoff position and they sat ALL FIVE of their starters.

Sucks for our draft odds, but again...no coach is going to tell their players to go out and try to lose games, nor should they. Our rotations were whack, we played Jordan McLuaghlin 17 minutes and still managed to win.

[John B]

It’s nice to see them win every now and then. I wish Castle got that triple-double that probably sealed that DPOY. 6 games to go. I’ll give them 2-4 maybe 1-5. That game against POR is a must loss. That last gave vs TOR can be a loss too with TOR way ahead on a losing column that a win would be non-bearing.