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00:00Denver, Colorado for an high-level elite showdown between two of not just the best teams in the NBA, but
00:09two of the best players in the NBA.
00:12Victor Wimbanyama, MVP candidate, Defensive Player of the Year, frontrunner, set to do battle against Nikola Jokic.
00:20Three-time MVP, averaging a triple-double on the season.
00:26Big-time matchup this afternoon in Denver.
00:30Today, it's the Nuggets, 49-28 on the season, taking on the San Antonio Spurs.
00:38The Spurs, 59 wins on the year, two games back of the one seed right now.
00:43OKC, meanwhile, Denver in that fourth seed, trying to catch the three-seed Lakers.
00:49And we welcome you inside Ball Arena alongside the coach, Dan Van Gundy.
00:54I'm Michael Grady.
00:54Cassidy Hubbard joins us as well, and coach, couldn't ask for a better tune-up ahead of postseason play.
00:59No, when you're getting ready for the playoffs, you get this close, you need to be tested to find out
01:05where you are.
01:06These two teams will test each other today.
01:08Well, we'll start with the MVP candidates.
01:10This is just the seventh all-time head-to-head meeting between Victor Wimbanyama and Nikola Jokic.
01:16Jokic with the four games to two advantage.
01:19Wimbanyama averaging 25 points per game against Jokic.
01:22Jokic, 37 points per game.
01:25He has been elite.
01:27Wimbanyama shooting 42% from the floor.
01:29Jokic, 55%.
01:31Coach, they have not met yet this season.
01:33This will be fun today.
01:34Well, it will be.
01:35And Wimbanyama's got a better cast around him now.
01:38He's a year older.
01:39And he wants this matchup, so this will be fun.
01:43It's not just about the star bigs.
01:45Both of those big men have elite-level guards next to them as well.
01:49What can you say about the play of Jamal Murray and Stephon Castle this season?
01:53Well, Jamal Murray, in his ninth year, having by far his best season.
01:57Career highs across the gourd.
01:59You name the category, it's the best year of his career.
02:03He's been unbelievable.
02:04And then Stephon Castle, rookie of the year last year, has gotten even better
02:09and has improved during the year before February 1st,
02:12shooting under 30% from three since February 1st, over 40%.
02:18This guy becomes unstoppable when he can make shots.
02:22Here we are in early April.
02:23Both these teams still have a lot to play for for more on their seeding strategy.
02:28Let's send it over to the third member of our team, Cassidy Hubbard.
02:31Yeah, Michael, beyond the star power you guys just laid out,
02:34this matchup features two of the hottest teams in the league,
02:37both pushing late but taking a little bit of a different approach.
02:41For San Antonio, it's about going forward and gathering as much momentum
02:44and experience as possible.
02:46Weminyama said, of course, chasing that one seed is the goal
02:49if the opportunity is there.
02:51On the other side, Denver knows what's in front of them,
02:53especially now with Luka out for the regular season at least.
02:56David Adelman acknowledged the three or four seed can be a real advantage,
03:00but for this group, it's less about a positioning and more about being whole.
03:04He told us, I'd rather be healthy and end up the five or six seed
03:07because at full health, we believe we can beat anybody.
03:10And they're not quite there yet, guys.
03:12Peyton Watson out again officially week to week
03:15after re-aggravating that hamstring injury.
03:17So both teams surging late, just prioritizing it a little differently.
03:21Yeah, both teams with a lot to play for this afternoon.
03:23And Coach, going back to San Antonio, an embarrassment of riches
03:27when it comes to their backcourt, not just talented, but young as well.
03:31And you were just raving moments ago about Stephon Castle.
03:33Yeah, and we know Stephon Castle is a great defender,
03:36but he has become more and more of an offensive force
03:39as this season has gone on.
03:42Udonis Haslam, what do you see in the way teams guard Stephon Castle?
03:55Positive gravitational pull would be a guy like Kevin Durant,
03:58Stephon Curry, Ant, these guys that pull defenses to them,
04:01how close the defense is to these guys.
04:03Negative gravitational pull would be Dyson Daniels, the Thompson Twins,
04:07how far back the defense is away from these guys.
04:09So when you watch Stephon Castle, he's able to come off pick and rolls
04:13and get over, excuse me, go downhill
04:15because everybody's going so far under.
04:16If you look at it right here, when you come off this pick and roll,
04:19already a weak defender in Jamal Murray, but you see how far he goes under.
04:23This becomes a foot race between an athletic guy and not-so-athletic guy,
04:26and you see who wins that situation right here.
04:28Once again, a not great defender, but he goes so far under here
04:32that Stephon Castle gets able to get back to his secondary move,
04:36get downhill, put his elbow in his chest, and get to his shot.
04:39So this is something that I think defenses think is actually easier,
04:42but we all agree that's worse because soft-to-soft defensively
04:45gives these guys a look of the same thing every single time.
04:48And guys are too good and too athletic, and they finish too well.
04:51So this is something I think that they should change,
04:53and we'll talk about it right now.
04:54Blake, you handle the ball.
04:57Dirk, you set the screen.
04:58And I'll be the defender on Stephon Castle.
05:01So Dirk, if you're setting the screen on this side right here,
05:03instead of me being all the way back here
05:06and just letting him go off that screen,
05:07go ahead and go off that screen, Blake.
05:08And me trying to meet Blake here, and now it becomes a foot race.
05:11He can bump into me, knock me off balance.
05:15I'm a reactive defender instead of being a proactive defender.
05:18When you're on defense, you want to be proactive.
05:19You want to send him where you want him to go.
05:21You know he's going that way.
05:22You don't give him another option, and then you meet him there.
05:25So the first thing that I want to do is I want to occupy the ball.
05:27Even if he's not a great shooter, I have to occupy this ball.
05:29So Blake is handling the ball.
05:30I'm occupying it.
05:31I'm occupying it.
05:32Not trying to steal it.
05:33Now I can go under.
05:34Now I want to meet him here.
05:35That takes away that foot race.
05:37That keeps my chest in front.
05:38Now if he wants to twist it again, he can twist it again.
05:40But I'll go under here and meet him again.
05:42So now, once again, I'm chest in front.
05:44I'm taking away that foot race.
05:46The lack of athleticism that I have compared to him when I'm Jamal Murray
05:49compared to a Stephon Castle, one of the more athletic guys in the league,
05:52now I take all of that out of the equation.
05:54And now he just has to make a tough shot from here.
05:56I got shrinking elbows.
05:57It's not a foot race down there, and I'm not going to lose that athletic battle.
06:00So that's something that I think teams should do.
06:02Another thing that's great when you're into the ball, let's say you set the screen.
06:07I now, you play me for going under, so you're actually moving it under.
06:11I have this gap.
06:12I can actually make the decision now.
06:14Oh, you know what?
06:15I have enough room here to fight over and get over.
06:17But if you're so far off, you really don't have a choice.
06:20You can't fight over anymore.
06:21Then you have to stay soft.
06:23You have to come under.
06:24It's a foot race, and it's too slow.
06:26So I agree with you.
06:27I play with some non-shooters.
06:29They love when the defense is soft.
06:30You can attack, even if the defense catches up here.
06:34It's one quick little spin, and they're right.
06:36They're never going to catch the second move.
06:37They're never going to catch the second move.
06:39So I agree.
06:40You've got to get into the ball.
06:41You've got to make it harder on Castle.
06:42He's just too comfortable there.
06:44He's playing, and he's attacking and getting downhill too easy.
06:47Yeah, he's doing.
06:49Sorry.
06:49The other thing this does, Taylor, real quick, is this brings the action further out on the floor.
06:53If you are guarding the man chest to chest, this big now has to come up and set the screen
06:58here instead of setting here, and everybody can get downhill quicker.
07:01So moving the action further out.
07:03And bringing that big up helps the big be better defensively because the further back it is, the easier to
07:08get a basket.
07:08So bring that big up like Blake said.
07:10All right, thanks for watching NBM Prime Pregame, presented by CarMax.
07:15All right, our matinee today is coming your way from Denver.
07:18The Spurs have won 11 in a row.
07:20The Nuggets are putting a seven-game win streak on the line.
07:23Tip-off is just a few minutes away with Michael Grady, Stan Van Gundy, and Cassie Hubbard right after this.
07:32You're watching a special presentation of the NBA on Prime.
08:02Really deep, long-distance ball.
08:05It just makes it look so easy.
08:17Welcome to NBA on Prime, presented by Mercedes-Benz.
08:24This afternoon at Ball Arena, the Denver Nuggets hosting the San Antonio Spurs.
08:31Let's get to our starting lineups.
08:35San Antonio, only 12 different starting lineups this season, amongst the fewest in the NBA.
08:41Devin Vassell, Julian Champagny, Victor Wimbanyama, Stephon Castle, and De'Aaron Fox.
08:48As for the Nuggets, trying to get healthy at the right time.
08:51Cam Johnson, Aaron Gordon, Nikoli Jokic, Christian Brown, and Jamal Murray.
09:01Both these teams led by some tremendous young basketball minds, Coach.
09:06Both in their first full season as head coaches, both very smart, humble, and they came up with these guys
09:16on this staff as assistants.
09:19So they came in knowing the lay of the land.
09:22This playoff preview features two of the highest-scoring teams in the NBA.
09:27They split their first two meetings of the season with both teams scoring over 130 points in both contests.
09:34Both teams have so much to play for.
09:36This is the first meeting of the regular season between MVP candidates, Victor Wimbanyama and Nikola Jokic.
09:44All we can say is, buckle up.
09:50Yeah, there's a handful of games every year, Michael, that you just, as a fan, as a commentator, really look
09:59forward, and even as players, really look forward to.
10:03This matchup of the two best centers of the new generation in Victor Wimbanyama and Nikola Jokic.
10:12I've had this one on my radar all year.
10:17Our officials for this one, Josh Tivin, alongside Rhea Costa and Nate Green.
10:23There's the opening tip, and we are underway.
10:27Spurs have won 11 in a row.
10:29Nuggets have won their last seven.
10:31Longest active win streaks in the NBA.
10:37This is Castle.
10:39Tossed outside.
10:40Back to Champini.
10:41Can't hit.
10:42Battle for the board.
10:43Victor Wimbanyama, and it's going the other way.
10:47Loose ball foul against Wimbanyama.
10:50Well, you don't like to get one like that on the first possession, because it can take away a little
10:56bit of your aggressiveness.
10:59I don't know about that one.
11:01I don't know who's got who on that.
11:03First of all, that's such a tough call.
11:05First offensive possession for the Nuggets.
11:09Murray outside.
11:11Johnson good from downtown.
11:14The last 12 games, he's shooting just under 50% for three.
11:19That's what they need out of him.
11:24Champini on the drive.
11:25Out to Vassell.
11:26Three from straight away.
11:28Swish.
11:29That's why we saw the first two games between these teams is a lot of threes.
11:37It's the Nuggets team that's been to the mountaintop.
11:40We're in an NBA title a few seasons ago.
11:43Christian Brown, three ball.
11:45Can't hit from the corner, but sell the board.
11:47Meanwhile, for San Antonio, each of these high-level games down the stretch, a great learning opportunity.
11:52Absolutely, because they're going in with not any playoff experience as a group.
11:57And so every time they get tested, really helps them.
12:01No better test than at Denver.
12:04Here's the matchup.
12:06Jokic win Benyama.
12:07Jokic squeezes it through.
12:10Jokic can go over either shoulder, use either hand.
12:15Vassell, no hesitation.
12:18Well, Vassell in the first two games against Denver this year was 11 for 19 from three.
12:25So now 13 for 21 from three.
12:30I mean, and here's our first head-to-head real matchup of the game.
12:36When Benyama pokes it away, but then Jokic's just able to get it in deep, point blank, and put it
12:43in the basket.
12:43As we mentioned in the open, Jokic's averaging 37 points in six head-to-head meetings with Benyama.
12:50There's another foul.
12:52That's two on Stephon Castle.
12:55Wow.
12:57That's Sean Sweeney, assistant coach, suggesting now that they switch the matchup rather than take Castle out.
13:05De'Aaron Fox switches on to Murray.
13:08Stephon Castle goes on to Johnson.
13:11Brown will try again from the corner.
13:13Won't go.
13:14And win Benyama the board.
13:16Well, Brown's been shooting it a lot better of late, almost 40 percent last year, but this year has been
13:23a struggle from three.
13:28Jokic picking up the foul, trying to contend with Wimbenyama on the drive.
13:32That's a 7-4 guy on a crossover, by the way.
13:42These are the numbers from the first two meetings between these two teams.
13:46I mean, get your track shoes.
13:48Absolutely.
13:48A lot of threes and a lot of free throw attempts in those two games.
13:55San Antonio shot 64 free throws and Denver 68 in the two games.
14:01So, we could have a lot of breaks in the action today.
14:05And both teams early on, you see it with the fouls.
14:08Both teams very aggressive, very physical.
14:11This is a big game.
14:13The intensity is way up.
14:17Wimbenyama good at the line.
14:19San Antonio with an early five-point advantage.
14:23You can't pressure Denver because if you do, they just throw the ball to Jokic.
14:27And he brings the ball up the floor, unless your center is going to pressure the ball full-point.
14:32Murray drew two fouls on Castle.
14:35Knocked down that triple over De'Aaron Fox.
14:38Shooting a career high 43% from three.
14:42I mean, this guy's just been outstanding.
14:45Castle to the rack.
14:48Well, the Nuggets switched it.
14:50Castle had Jokic on him.
14:53He's quick.
14:54Jokic already has a foul.
14:55Not going to take a chance on fouling and blocking that shot.
14:59Murray that time off the heel.
15:01And Vassell taps it to Wimbenyama.
15:05Vassell hot early.
15:07Bottoms!
15:09Well, this roster for San Antonio.
15:12Brian Wright, the GM, his staff.
15:14So well constructed around Wimbenyama.
15:18They have playmakers in Fox Castle and Harper.
15:22They've got shooting in Vassell and Champinney.
15:25The other guys starting to shoot it better.
15:27Just very tough to stop these guys.
15:30Jokic two for two early.
15:34Nuggets back within five.
15:35Toss it up!
15:37Area 51.
15:39Timeout Denver.
15:41Wow.
15:45Well, once you get numbers in transition, then you have no way to defend them.
15:52Wimbenyama just runs right past the castle.
15:55Great feed.
15:56San Antonio up seven.
15:58Best believe I'm going to chase it.
16:00I'll be in my zone.
16:02I am not the one to play with.
16:05Spurs.
16:06Road favorites heading into this one.
16:08We mentioned before that both these teams have put up combined over 260 in the first two meetings.
16:13Over under tonight at 251.
16:16Fast start already in this one, Sam.
16:18Absolutely.
16:19We could blow that 251 apart today.
16:23San Antonio 17, Denver 10.
16:27The Nuggets 26-12 at home this season.
16:30The Spurs 29-11 on the road.
16:34It's their last road game of the year.
16:38Jokic fouled by Wimbenyama.
16:41Jokic putting on the moves.
16:42Took a shot to the face.
16:44Well, this is always the tough decision you have.
16:48Or one of the tough decisions with Denver's top-rated offense.
16:52Do you play Jokic one-on-one?
16:55Or do you come and double where now he's spreading the ball around to cutters and shooters?
17:00They've elected to play him one-on-one.
17:03I watched assistant coach Sean Sweeney working with Wimbenyama before the game how to guard him.
17:08But quite honestly, there's no one in the league can guard Jokic one-on-one.
17:12No, and this is the game within the game.
17:14Victor Wimbenyama looking over to Mitch Johnson and saying, I'm okay.
17:16Wimbenyama just picked up his second foul.
17:19Castle also has two fouls in this ballgame.
17:23And Mitch Johnson at the moment electing to keep them out there.
17:26Right.
17:26I would expect San Antonio will now come and double Jokic in those situations.
17:32Not stick Wimbenyama down there one-on-one.
17:38Fox over to Vassell.
17:40He's had the hot hand early.
17:41Over to Victor Wimbenyama.
17:43Defended by Gordon.
17:44Wimbenyama on the move.
17:46Spins inside, puts it up, and earns a trip to the line.
17:50Murray did a good job being in the gap, helping there.
17:54And coming on Wimbenyama on the dribble, I think, is a good idea.
17:58But he reaches here and gets him on the arm.
18:01If he just comes, what you want to make him do is pass the ball, though.
18:05The pass would have been to Champagny, so I don't know how good an idea that is.
18:10Victor Poison.
18:12Wimbenyama two-for-two at the line already.
18:16On the season, Wimbenyama, an 82% foul shooter.
18:23And in that race for MVP, along with Shea Gilgis-Alexander, the reigning MVP, and, of course, Nikola Jokic, a
18:32three-time most valuable player.
18:34Yeah, and for some reason, people seem to think the MVP is a foregone conclusion.
18:39I mean, I look at all the numbers.
18:41First of all, Jokic's going to become the first guy in NBA history to lead the league in assists and
18:46rebounds.
18:47That's absurd.
18:48That's absurd to do that and average 28 at the same time.
18:52And then you look at all the advanced analytics, and he's ahead in all of it.
18:57Castle, no good.
18:59Jokic comes out of there with the board.
19:01Well, this is when Denver's at their most dangerous in transition.
19:05Jokic direct in traffic, but great defense there by Champagny.
19:11And substitution now.
19:14Castle will remain out there on the floor with those two fouls.
19:17Wimbenyama will take a seat.
19:19Luke Cornett and the rookie Dylan Harper on the floor for the Spurs.
19:22And Luke Cornett could start for a lot of teams in this league.
19:26Excellent big guy to bring off the bench.
19:29Good defender.
19:31Excellent pick-and-roll guy.
19:34Bucket drops.
19:36Aaron Gordon, been dealing with injuries for most of the season.
19:41This is his 34th game of the year.
19:43Well, it's one of the things that we cut to the open area there in the zone.
19:47Our guys in the studio gave an absolutely great analysis, I thought, of what all Aaron Gordon does.
19:55Blake Griffin talked about him being a star in his role and learning to play off of those other two
20:00stars.
20:00We saw it on that out-of-bounds play.
20:03Jokic floats it up and through.
20:06Eight points for Nikola Jokic.
20:09Well, it's a different game when Wimbenyama's out now.
20:12Teams, you see teams adjust and attack the rim a lot more.
20:17Vassell left that one short.
20:19That's his first miss of the ball game.
20:22He was three for three from downtown.
20:24An excellent feed from Dylan Harper, who in a great rookie class has been outstanding.
20:31Skip pass to Johnson.
20:32Johnson on the drive and threw it right through the hands of Christian Brown.
20:37That was a fastball.
20:38He needed a catcher's glove for that one.
20:41It was the right look.
20:42The Rockies play today.
20:44The Rockies do.
20:44And the way they couldn't get anybody out yesterday, they could use him maybe, because that was about 100 miles
20:51an hour.
20:52Gordon takes a seat.
20:54Tim Hardaway Jr.
20:57In the ball game now for the Nuggets.
20:59His first season in Denver, he's been lighting it up from downtown off the bench.
21:03This is Castle.
21:04Must be on his way inside.
21:06So strong when he gets around the rim, he's going to finish it.
21:10His decision-making has improved greatly.
21:13He was turning it over a lot early in the year.
21:16Murray with the runner.
21:21Four-point ball game just past the midway mark of this opening quarter.
21:28Matchup between two of some of the best teams in the NBA this season.
21:32Harper got his own miss.
21:34Castle.
21:35Off the back iron.
21:37Brown off to the races.
21:38This is where he's dangerous.
21:39Brown will get the bounce.
21:41Tipped up and off by Johnson.
21:43Harper chases it down.
21:44Cornette got hit in the grill.
21:51Vassell.
21:53At the elbow.
21:54Pull up J.
21:55No.
21:56Castle.
21:57Try to put back at Tim, but Jokic came out of there with him.
22:02Murray.
22:02Step back.
22:03A couple of head fakes.
22:05Great D.
22:06Johnson.
22:06No good.
22:08Champagny the long rebound.
22:10The pace of this game is great, too, Michael.
22:15Castle will slow things down.
22:19Castle.
22:20Knife it inside.
22:21Kick out.
22:23Vassell.
22:23Short.
22:25Great look by Castle, though.
22:27Seventh in the league in assists.
22:29And those are the kind of passes he's made consistently on the year.
22:34Jokic.
22:35He's got the bounce.
22:37I am not sure fans understand how hard that shot is.
22:41And he shot that off the wrong foot.
22:43He shot it off the right foot.
22:45And he makes that look easy.
22:47That is a very difficult shot.
22:50We'd love to hear our guys in the studio talk about that shot at halftime with Dirk Blake
22:56and Udonis, all front-line guys, how hard those shots are.
23:00Champagny in front of the Spurs bench drains the trifecta, his first field goal of the game.
23:06Well, this team's just so unselfish.
23:09They moved the ball so well.
23:12Now they're going 2-3 zone here against the Nuggets.
23:16Brown has missed twice from the corner, third time's a charm.
23:22He's got to make those.
23:24I mean, he's the guy with this team that people lay off of.
23:30He's got to be able to knock those down when he's open.
23:33Harper in the lane, outside to Vassell.
23:36Vassell penetrating finger roll at the cup.
23:41Well, the problem with Denver's been their defense, and they have no answer for San Antonio right now.
23:48Brown missed the layup.
23:50Ray Acosta says it's because he was fouled by Luke Cornett.
23:56This is excellent transition.
23:58First, a great drive by Vassell.
24:02And then the Nuggets push it right back at them.
24:06But this is the one before Christian Brown knocking down the three.
24:11Very important for them.
24:13Like we said last year, almost 40% from three this year, under 30%.
24:20They need him to at least split the difference.
24:23These battle injuries this season as well as we take a look at the upcoming national TV schedule tonight.
24:28NBA TV.
24:30Pistons, top team in the East, taking on the Sixers tomorrow on NBA TV.
24:34The Raptors, Celtics tomorrow, NBC and Peacock.
24:38Lakers, Mavs, Rockets, Warriors.
24:41For more on these games, go to NBA.com or visit the NBA app.
24:47Third of four meetings between these two teams.
24:50They'll meet in the regular season finale.
24:55Of course, this is a playoff preview, potentially.
25:00Now, we can see this in the second round if Denver gets to that three spot.
25:05Champinney good again.
25:08Already five made threes.
25:12Three of them by Vassell, two by Champinney.
25:15We'll talk about it again.
25:16And that roster construction has been excellent.
25:20Those two shooters have been key to this team.
25:24Harper on the drive.
25:27Harper with the lane.
25:30Wow.
25:31First field goal for the rookie, Dylan Harper.
25:38Largest lead for the Spurs.
25:40Hardaway can't hit.
25:41Brown on the floor.
25:44Tremendous mustache.
25:46Tremendous bucket.
25:49249 to go in the opening quarter.
25:52Spurs leading by.
25:54Are as in sync as you have been since he's been around.
25:57She understands me very well.
25:59He, as the ball handler, is actively trying to get the best shot for the team.
26:03And me, as the roller, I'm trying to make sure every time he does it up, it ends up in
26:07the dunk.
26:08I hope to spend 15 years as his teammates.
26:11Hopefully we see thousands of loves.
26:15Coach Victor Wimbenyama, 22.
26:18Stefan Kassel, 21.
26:19They're going to be a problem for a while.
26:21They are.
26:22They're trying to replicate what Tony Parker and Tim Duncan did for so long in San Antonio.
26:28And what Jokic and Murray are doing here now in Denver, being among the best two-man games in the
26:36history of the league.
26:38Fast start here in this one.
26:41Spurs with a five-point advantage.
26:43Victor Wimbenyama gave it up to Keldon Johnson.
26:45Johnson gets out of trouble.
26:47Good pressure here by the Nuggets.
26:51Wimbenyama hounded by Brown.
26:53Wimbenyama skipped pass.
26:55Barnes.
26:55Yes!
26:57That pass is incredible.
26:59We talked so much, and deservedly so, about Jokic's passing.
27:04That is a 7-4 guy going left off the dribble and zipping the ball to the weak side corner.
27:11Phenomenal.
27:12Both teams playing small on the centers now.
27:14Gordon, no good.
27:16And here comes Spock's quickly the other way.
27:20Wimbenyama straight on three.
27:23Banked it in!
27:25Now, he didn't call that.
27:27I want a rule that the referees can wave those off if you don't hear a call.
27:34Wimbenyama eight points in the first, and that pass found its way to Brown in the corner!
27:40An unconventional assist.
27:43Did he get an assist on that?
27:45I don't think so.
27:47I don't think so.
27:48We are in Denver, though.
27:50Oh, my God!
27:50Fox pushed off.
27:58Wimbeny here.
28:00Denver slow to match up.
28:03And then look at this.
28:05To the weak side corner.
28:07My God.
28:10Hardaway from deep.
28:12That's what he does.
28:13He's having his best year shooting the ball.
28:15As Dirk said in the studio show, perfect role for him.
28:19He doesn't have to be a handler and a playmaker.
28:22Play hard on defense and come in firing away.
28:26Wimbenyama.
28:27That won't go.
28:28Hardaway the board.
28:30First season for Hardaway shooting better than 40% from downtown.
28:34Stronger!
28:35Swish!
28:36This is high-level basketball.
28:4113 made threes in the first quarter between these teams.
28:46You gotta love it.
28:479-0 run by the Nuggets.
28:50Johnson can't answer.
28:53Gordon the rebound.
28:54Nuggets looking to tie and take the lead.
28:58Jokic goes down after colliding with Wimbenyama.
29:01Gordon threw it away.
29:03Jokic still down.
29:04And there's a foul on Brown.
29:07David Adelman.
29:08And you see the blood on the bridge of the nose of Nikola Jokic.
29:13And a technical foul has been called.
29:16On Jose Barea, I believe.
29:19Either Barea or Gordon.
29:23They want him to check for a possible flagrant there.
29:28They didn't even call a foul.
29:31I mean, obviously inadvertent.
29:32It's certainly not a flagrant.
29:41But he did get hit in the face.
29:43There's enough for a foul call.
29:45And I'm with you.
29:46Not as flagrant.
29:47Certainly not a flagrant.
29:48But that would have been Wimbenyama's third.
29:51That changes the whole course of this game.
29:55And instead, Wimbenyama's going to be standing at the free throw line.
30:02They call it a transition take foul.
30:05Which it certainly was.
30:07There's no question it was.
30:11So Victor Wimbenyama at the line adds to the intensity we already had here in Ball Arena.
30:20Well, the fans here somehow are not happy.
30:31So they did call the technical on Aaron Gordon.
30:40And Gordon was incensed that there being no call.
30:44So it was that second free throw.
30:49Again, transition take.
30:50One free throw.
30:50Technical foul.
30:51One free throw.
30:53It's 40-36.
30:56With 34.6 to go in this opening quarter.
31:10Did they call a clear path?
31:14Did they call a clear path?
31:16Because didn't he just shoot two?
31:22Trying to see if they called Adelman for a tech also.
31:26I believe it's not listed on the play-by-play.
31:29But Adelman.
31:30I agree.
31:30I'm trying to figure out how he shot three free throws.
31:34So a tech on Adelman.
31:35A tech on Gordon.
31:36And a transition take foul free throw.
31:39Makes it 41-36.
31:4230 seconds to go now.
31:44Here in the opening quarter.
31:45Fox got the bounce.
31:48Like the possession there.
31:49And what a response after a 9-0 Nuggets run.
31:53They've got seven on one possession.
31:55But five on one possession.
31:57Stronger outside.
31:58Bruce Brown won't go.
32:01Wimbanyama the board.
32:02And the Spurs can hold for the final shot of the court.
32:06Well, they had Wimbanyama on Bruce Brown and just left him in the lane.
32:09Gave him that shot.
32:12Fox not on the same page with Wimbanyama.
32:15Fox thought he was staying in the corner.
32:17Nine-tenths of a second.
32:19For the Nuggets.
32:23Gordon from the opposite free throw line.
32:26It won't go.
32:27The Spurs shoot 63% in the opening quarter.
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33:14What an opening quarter here at Ball Arena.
33:17Michael Brady, Stan Van Gundy, Cassidy Hubbard.
33:20Both teams shooting at a blistering rate in the first 12 minutes.
33:25Spurs 63%, Nuggets 57%.
33:27Yeah, incredible.
33:2813 made threes, 19 assists.
33:30And we know these games are playing at an easier time to watch for people in Europe.
33:36And we've got Wimbledon Yama and Jokic combined in for 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in the first
33:45quarter.
33:47We said it from the start.
33:49This is a fantastic playoff tune-up both ways.
33:55Spurs the 2-seed in the West.
33:57Nuggets the 4-seed.
33:58This is Hardaway beyond the arc.
34:01Money.
34:03And that was a sign left on center court.
34:07I don't know how that was left there.
34:11Was that there the whole time?
34:13Great vision by Nate.
34:14That was, yes.
34:16You know, looked like part of the court.
34:18Hardaway knocking down the Nuggets 7-3 of the night.
34:22His second.
34:23He's just thrived in this system.
34:26Dirk Davitsky talked about what a great fit he is.
34:28He's never been in a system that fits him any better than this.
34:33Doss it up, Wimbledon Yama.
34:36And the Nuggets could do nothing but foul him in that situation.
34:41And, Sten, I don't know that I've seen this before.
34:43Return to play and it's just a whole sign.
34:46Just.
34:47Wow.
34:48Yeah, that is crazy.
34:50But the Nuggets switched down here.
34:52I mean, you're putting a guard on Victor Wimbledon Yama?
34:57That's not going to go.
34:59David Adelman, very upset.
35:01Should not be a shooting foul.
35:03He's not arguing the foul.
35:05He's arguing that it was not a shooting foul.
35:09And.
35:11Occasionally, I'll side with the coach over a referee.
35:14And here, I will side with David Adelman.
35:17Yes.
35:19I mean, look at his last 14 games here.
35:2229 a game.
35:2313 rebounds a game.
35:25I mean, it's unbelievable.
35:27But he spoke candidly not long ago about his MVP candidacy.
35:30And speaking about how it's important to look at both ends of the floor.
35:33And he's backed up that talk with what he's done.
35:36Not just on the defensive side of the ball, which he's done all year.
35:38But stepping it up on the offensive end.
35:39And he's got five straight games coming into tonight where he's had 15 or more rebounds.
35:44That's phenomenal.
35:46And he's right about everything he says.
35:49Because at the defensive end of the floor, I've never seen anybody impact a game like this.
35:53We've had great shot blockers in the league.
35:55But they were really ring protectors.
35:58Harper to the perimeter in black shots.
36:01Harper showing the strength.
36:04Bucket and the foul.
36:05I mean, this team just has, as you said it earlier, so many weapons.
36:10Look at that behind the back.
36:12And the strength.
36:14And then stares him down.
36:16This is a rookie.
36:18Played his freshman year at Rutgers.
36:20Comes right in the league.
36:22He's improved drastically as a shooter over the course of the year.
36:25Now you have to play more honestly.
36:28Impossible to stop.
36:29This team's got everything they need.
36:32They've got shooters, playmakers, and more than anything, Victor Wimbanyama.
36:37And now the rookie, Carter Bryant, getting the assignment on Murray.
36:41And not even involved off the ball defensively.
36:44Just face guarding him that entire possession.
36:48Fox showing off the speed.
36:50Wow.
36:52Look at Carter Bryant here.
36:54He's just going to play Murray.
36:56Mitch Johnson talked about this.
36:58You're not going to stand around and let those two guys, Murray and Jokic, play.
37:04He's going to make the other guys try to beat them.
37:08They're saying the foul is on the floor.
37:11Hardaway incensed.
37:19Here's De'Aaron Fox on the drive.
37:22You saw Dylan Harper earlier.
37:23Now it's Fox.
37:25Keeping this team out of the paint is almost impossible.
37:33Hardaway.
37:36Shadowed by Fox.
37:38Gave it up to Gordon.
37:39Four on the shot clock.
37:41Brown.
37:42Float set up.
37:43High arching shot.
37:44Won't go.
37:45He tried what he could against that eight-foot wingspan.
37:50Wimbanyama inside.
37:52Dump off.
37:53Barnes with the reverse.
37:59Timeout, Denver.
38:04Harrison Barnes, one of the senior citizens on this Spurs squad,
38:10with a youthful move at the rim.
38:41Largest lead for San Antonio.
38:42Runner.
38:43Runner.
38:43It's the middle of the afternoon, Michael, and the stars are already shining.
38:49Nuggets started small in the second quarter.
38:52Jonas Valanciunas off the bench for David Adelman.
38:54Yeah, he's a little tough to go small against Victor Wimbanyama.
38:57I mean, every team in the NBA has size, but there's a little difference between 6'9 and 7'4.
39:04There is 7'4.
39:06Victor Wimbanyama, defended by Gordon.
39:09It rotates to Fox.
39:12Fox firing over Murray, and not enough on it.
39:16Well, Fox and Wimbanyama, interestingly enough, are the only two guys in this 27-2 run,
39:24whose three-point shooting has gone the other way, and they've struggled from there.
39:28They've obviously both played great, but they haven't hit threes.
39:33As you just said, they've won 27 of their last 29.
39:3621 of those wins have come by double figures.
39:40Gordon, dump off to Valanciunas.
39:42Valanciunas fouled on the interior, and Valanciunas will go to the line.
39:47Well, just a great pass there by Aaron Gordon, who does so many things for this team.
39:52Again, I think our guys in the studio did an incredible job breaking down his value.
39:58Blake talking about him being a star in his role offensively.
40:02Udonis talking about being a disciplined defender.
40:05And then Dirk mentioned he's become a 40% three-point shooter.
40:09Crime 101, starring Chris Hemsworth.
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