SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic exited after playing the first half of the Denver Nuggets' regular-season finale against San Antonio on Sunday night for his 65th game played to qualify for NBA awards.
Jokic had 23 points, eight rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot while playing 18 minutes, 15 seconds in the first half.
The NBA requires players to participate in 65 games to be eligible for MVP, All-NBA and Defensive Player of the Year
honors. The NBA allows two exemptions of 15 to 19:59 minutes played to count as an official game. Jokic had one exemption remaining.
Jokic was listed as questionable with an injured right wrist, but entered the finale having played in 64 games.
“Yeah, he’ll play the first half,” Denver coach David Adelman said before tipoff. “Then we’ll reconvene at halftime and see where he’s at, where the game’s at. It’s what the rules provide. So we’ll follow the rules.”
Denver needs a victory over the Spurs on Sunday to secure the third seed in the Western Conference. A Nuggets loss, coupled with a win by the Los Angeles Lakers, would drop the Nuggets to fourth and move the Lakers to third.
Jokic, who won MVP in 2021, 2022 and 2024, has been named to the All-NBA Team in seven of his 11 seasons.
Spurs All-Star Victor Wembanyama is sitting out the game after reaching eligibility in his previous game.
Wembanyama qualified for award eligibility by playing in his 65th game Friday, in San Antonio's 139-120 victory over Dallas.
Wembanyama competed in 64 regular-season games in addition to the NBA Cup Final, which does not count toward regular-season record or statistics, but does qualify as a game played.
Wembanyama suffered a left rib contusion and missed the second half of Monday's 115-102 victory against the Philadelphia 76ers. He returned Friday to post 40 points and 13 rebounds in 26:13 minutes against Dallas.
He was listed as questionable due to injury management and was ruled out after the Spurs' afternoon walkthrough.
“Yeah, he’s doing well, but just a little sore and felt it was the appropriate decision,” San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson said. “He was probably, to be honest, the closest call of the group, but just right in that kind of in between.”
Spurs guard Stephon Castle was upgraded to available after missing the past two games with a left foot soreness.
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