Nikola Jokić, Victor Wembanyama deliver a classic, show what NBA can be at its best

DENVER -- In a league threatening to get lost in everything wrong, what happened here Saturday was oh so right. It was Denver 136, San Antonio 134. In overtime. This wasn't illegal contracts to subvert the salary cap. It wasn't a gambling scandal. And there were no stars avoiding the grind of a late-season game, no team trying to tuck away a star to preserve playoff hopes. This was two of the game's biggest stars leading two of the NBA's hottest franchises and giving performances for the ages in a game that left a sellout crowd sweating, hoarse and exhausted. "In sports, pessimism is everywhere," Denver coach David Adelman said. "I would pay to watch these two teams play. This is, like, very good basketball." Nikola Jokić, the clever Denver center, had 40 points, 13 assists, eight rebounds and zero turnovers in 44 minutes. Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs' transcendent center, had 34 points, 18 rebounds, seven assists and five blocks. It was an instant classic. An homage to when "the NBA is faaaaaaantastic" was more than just a slogan. A time when the hype of the national broadcast was matched by the stars on the marquee. "It's good for sports," Adelman said. "I mean, the way they both do it is completely different. And at the same time, it's its own unique, awesome thing. And like I said, that's what I was talking about buying a ticket to this. You're not gonna see two people like this in many generations." This wasn't just a game; it was theater. Two stars at their finest. Co-stars (Jamal Murray) diving into the bench for loose balls. Role players (Julian Champagnie) sharing the limelight (18 points on six 3-pointers). Referees playing the heel, unconvinced by Jokić's amateur foray into acting (he embellished a couple of hands to the face). "These are the games you live for," said Denver guard Christian Braun, who had 21 points. Added Spurs coach Mitch Johnson: "Felt like there were high stakes from the first possession. A really fun game to be a part of." Before the game, both coaches stumped for their guy to win the league's Most Valuable Player award, and both players lived up to the praise. Jokić was especially impactful late. He hit a cutting Aaron Gordon for a dunk with 6.2 seconds left in regulation to tie the score, then in overtime, he hit a how-did-he-do-that rainbow over Wembanyama from 11 feet that gave the Nuggets a 133-129 lead. Jokić, who was blocked twice by Wembanyama on Saturday, said there was a reason why he lofted the ball so high over the 7-foot-4 string bean. "If you guys remember, a few years ago, he actually blocked the type of shot," Jokić said. "But it was nothing different. I think I just created a little bit more space, who knows?" Then he iced it with another floater, this time from 7 feet with 9.8 seconds left. Jokić's performance was quite the proof added to the pudding Adelman served up pregame. "He is the best player in the world," Adelman said. "I mean, the efficiency this year, what he's done, I just, growing up around this, I understand that there has to be multiple stories, and different people have to win awards. I think that's really cool. And what Wembanyama is, he is so good for the game. He's so unique. What Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander) is, bringing back kind of an old-school '90s scoring mentality with a new-school 3-point shot. You know, all these guys are so good for the game. "But I just don't want people to skip past our guy because he's won it three times," Adelman said. "I think that's, I don't know, it's just disappointing to me. He's historical. And so he should be in the conversation every time, and I shouldn't have to, you know, argue for him. I think if anybody watches basketball, has any idea what's going on in the game of basketball, knows that he should be up in the MVP, and should be one of the favorites to win." While Jokić reinforced his value, Wembanyama continued his breakout season as the NBA's next game-changing force. Two of his blocks against Jonas Valančiūnas bordered on comical ... he grabbed the ball from the release point of the 6-11 center as if he were taking plates off the shelf to prepare for dinner. And he had a collection of artful passes, where he rotated his body in midair and found a teammate, or showed deft touch on lobs. "It's so fun to watch really good players who can both really pass," Adelman said. "I mean, when Wembanyama threw a pass in the first half, directly to the other corner off his left hand, he's the only one that can make that pass with that kind of size and that kind of vision. And then you see some of the plays that Jok makes every night. ... Even the shot making that Jok had tonight over the top of that guy's hand is just absolutely incredible. The touch, and then some of the blocked shots that kid had. "You just don't see some of the stuff that we saw today," Adelman marveled. And to think, this could just be the appetizer. It is looking more and more like the Spurs and Nuggets could be on a course to meet in the second round of the playoffs. San Antonio (59-19) had its 11-game win streak snapped, and the Spurs are 27-3 in their last 30 games ... with two of the losses coming to Denver. That's ominous for the Spurs because Denver (50-28) won its eighth straight and moved to within a half game of the suddenly limping Lakers. If Denver can pass the Lakers for third place in the West, and the Spurs remain in second, they could meet in the second round of the playoffs. That means more of Jokić versus Wembanyama. The Joker versus The Alien. Two MVP-worthy, generational centers, going head to head, game after game. In seven career head-to-head games, Jokić owns a 5-2 record against Wembanyama while posting averages of 37.3 points, 10.8 rebounds and 9.1 assists. Wembanyama, who is most often guarded by Gordon when facing the Nuggets, has averaged 26.4 points, 15.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 4.1 blocks in the seven matchups. There is obvious respect between them, but neither was effusive in stroking the other. Jokić said he respects the entire NBA so much that he has to be up for every game. "I think it's great to be a fan of basketball right now, especially NBA," Jokić said. "Like, every day, every night, you can find some really, really interesting game and a really fun matchup. So yes, I mean, do I enjoy (competing against Wembanyama)? I enjoy competing against everybody. Against him doesn't really make any special. I think it's just another game for me. But I like to compete against everybody in the league, just because I think the league is so talented. I think we are getting spoiled and we don't appreciate it enough." Added Wembanyama: "It was really enjoyable. Really challenging. Looking forward to doing that again."