The Denver Nuggets had been leading the Western Conference standings after their victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, their chances of holding onto the top spot were dashed by rookie Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.
Wembanyama put on an impressive display in the game, scoring 34 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, dishing out five assists, and blocking two shots. In just three minutes, he scored 17 points to help secure the victory for the Spurs.
San Antonio sealed their win with a basket over Jamal Murray in the final seconds of the game. The loss was a major blow to the Nuggets, who were now tied with both the Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder in the standings.
If they had beaten San Antonio, they would have been in prime position to secure the top seed in the West. However, they now needed both teams to lose their final games in order to claim that spot for themselves. The Thunder and Timberwolves both faced tough matchups ahead, while Denver was set to face Memphis Grizzlies.
The remaining games would determine who would claim the top seed in the Western Conference. Despite having an easier opponent than either of their competitors, Denver faced an uphill battle to secure that spot due to tiebreakers coming into play if necessary.
