Nuggets Clinch No. 3 Seed with 128-118 Win Over Spurs

The Denver Nuggets defeated the San Antonio Spurs 128-118 on Sunday in San Antonio, securing the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference and a first-round playoff matchup against the No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves. The victory capped a 12-game winning streak for Denver, which finished the regular season with a 54-28 record.

Nikola Jokic, the team's three-time NBA Most Valuable Player, played just over 18 minutes in the first half before exiting, ensuring his eligibility for end-of-season awards. Listed as questionable due to right wrist injury management, Jokic scored 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting, grabbed eight rebounds, dished two assists and blocked one shot. His appearance marked his 65th game of the season, meeting the league's threshold for consideration in honors such as MVP, All-NBA and Defensive Player of the Year. The NBA counts games with at least 15 to 19 minutes 59 seconds of play toward the requirement, and Jokic had one exemption available entering the finale.

Denver coach David Adelman confirmed pregame that Jokic would play the first half to satisfy the rules. "Yeah, he'll play the first half," Adelman said. "Then we'll reconvene at halftime and see where he's at,...