Two giants. One court. An overtime classic no one will forget anytime soon. On April 4, 2026, Ball Arena in Denver hosted one of the greatest regular-season NBA games in recent memory. Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and 22-year-old phenom Victor Wembanyama went toe to toe in a back-and-forth battle that needed extra time to settle.
The crowd of 20,039 fans witnessed an unforgettable showdown as the Denver Nuggets triumphed over San Antonio, 136–134, in overtime, ending the Spurs’ 11-game winning streak. This thrilling game was about more than just the final score.
Read on to find out what made this game truly unforgettable.
The stage was already set for a classic
Corrected statement: This was the third regular-season meeting between Denver and San Antonio in 2025-26, and both teams scored at least 130 points in all three meetings: 139-136, 136-131, and 136-134. San Antonio entered on an 11-game winning streak, while Denver had won eight straight.
The Spurs came in riding an 11-game win streak and sat second in the Western Conference. Denver had rattled off eight straight wins of their own. Both teams were playing with genuine purpose and energy. You couldn’t have scripted a better rivalry clash heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
Jokic’s stat line was historically ridiculous
Nikola Jokic put together one of the most complete individual performances the NBA has seen in years. Jokic finished with 40 points, 13 assists, eight rebounds, three blocks, and no turnovers while shooting 13-of-25 from the field and 13-of-15 from the line. NBA.com said he became the first center to record 40 points, 10 assists, and no turnovers in a game.
It was also Jokic’s seventh career game with at least 30 points, 10 assists, and zero turnovers. His efficiency from the free-throw line was equally sharp, going 13-of-15. Nuggets coach David Adelman said after the game that he would pay to watch these two teams play. The sellout crowd at Ball Arena clearly felt the same way.
The fourth-quarter comeback was breathtaking
Jokic and Jamal Murray engineered one of the best closing runs of the season. Murray hit a three to give Denver its first lead since 3-0, but San Antonio answered and led 122-116 with 1:39 left after Wembanyama’s free throws. Cam Johnson completed a four-point play, Jokic made two free throws, Fox missed a three-pointer, and Gordon tied the game with a dunk with 6.2 seconds left.
Jokic drew two free throws with 32 seconds left. Aaron Gordon locked Fox into an air-ball at the shot clock buzzer. Then came the defining play of regulation. Wembanyama drifted toward Jokic on the baseline, thinking he could recover. Jokic read the double team instantly and zipped a pass to a wide-open Gordon for a game-tying dunk with 6.2 seconds left.
Jokic took over in overtime and sealed it
Jokic opened overtime with a mid-range jumper over Wembanyama. After Champagnie briefly put San Antonio ahead 127-126, Gordon dunked a lob, Johnson hit a three, and Jokic made an 11-footer with a minute left to push Denver’s lead to 133-129. Jokic then hit a short jumper with about 10 seconds left to seal the win.
Jokic added a floating jumper over Wembanyama with just 9.8 seconds remaining to seal the win. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson summed up Jokic’s brilliance perfectly after the game. Wembanyama, meanwhile, scored just two points in overtime on a night when he had dominated everything else.
Fun fact: Jokic has averaged 37.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 9.1 assists across his seven career games against Wembanyama.
Wembanyama was nothing short of spectacular
Victor Wembanyama was arguably the best player on the floor for the first three quarters. He finished with 34 points, 18 rebounds, seven assists, and five blocks, and his 16 made free throws were a career high. The official box score lists him at 39:36, not 40:00.
He also became the first player since Shaquille O’Neal in his 1999-2000 MVP season to put up three straight games with at least 30 points, 15 rebounds, and three blocks. Wembanyama played a season-high 40 minutes and never showed signs of physical fatigue. The loss was not on him. It was simply a matter of running into Jokic at his absolute peak.
Fun fact: Wembanyama accidentally hit Jokic in the face in the first quarter, cutting the bridge of his nose. No foul was called. Wembanyama went over and apologized immediately after the play, and the two stars dapped up and moved on as if nothing happened.
What the supporting cast did to make it possible
Christian Braun contributed 21 points as a starter and provided vital energy throughout a game that swung wildly in momentum. Cameron Johnson chipped in 17 points and converted the massive four-point play late in regulation that started the final rally.
For San Antonio, Stephon Castle added 20 points and nine assists. Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie each scored 18. The Spurs had six players score in double figures. On most nights, that would be more than enough to win. On this night, they ran into something historic.
What this means for the MVP race
Nikola Jokic’s performance has strengthened his MVP case in a race that also includes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Jokic is currently averaging 27.8 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.9 assists per game for the 2025–26 season. He leads the primary MVP candidates with an effective field goal percentage of .618. His statistical profile, highlighted by a season-long triple-double average, remains one of the strongest in years.
Victor Wembanyama remains the overwhelming frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year. He leads the NBA with 3.1 blocks per game this season, while the next-highest qualified players—Amen Thompson, Cason Wallace, and Dyson Daniels—sit at 2.0 blocks per game. Both Jokic and Wembanyama left Ball Arena with their reputations intact, and fans are now focused on the April 12 regular-season finale in San Antonio.
TL;DR
- Denver beat San Antonio 136–134 in overtime on April 4, 2026, snapping the Spurs’ 11-game win streak.
- Jokic became the first center in NBA history to post 40-plus points with 10-plus assists and no turnovers in a single game.
- Denver trailed by 11 in the fourth quarter before rallying and tying it on an Aaron Gordon dunk with 6.2 seconds left.
- The season finale between these teams is scheduled for April 12 in San Antonio.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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