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DENVER (AP) – The Denver Nuggets have eliminated San Antonio from the field. Long before, officials headed Gregg Popovich.
Nikola Jokic scored 20 points, took 11 rebounds and handed out nine of the 41 assists in his season's record in Denver, while the Nuggets escaped San Antonio 113 to 85 on Wednesday night in a match in which the Spurs coach had expelled after only 63 seconds.
Jamal Murray added 14 points and 11 assists for a Nuggets team that currently holds the second seed in the West with four games to play. The team rebounded after a 116-102 loss to the top-seeded Golden State a night earlier.
"We played," said Murray, "the way we want to play."
Denver gradually built an impressive lead against the Spurs before emptying the bench about 5 minutes from the end. Popovich had been away for a long time and did not have to suffer the implosion of his team.
Popovich appeared livid as a result of a no-fault call and asked for a timeout to argue with the officials. After two technical tests, he was sent to the cloakroom at 10:57 of the first quarter. The last time a coach was kicked out in the first two minutes of a match, it was the Washington Flip Saunders, January 2, 2012 in Boston, according to research from the Elias Sports Bureau. . Saunders was ejected at 1:46 in this match.
After the match, Popovich does not have much to say.
"You will have to ask the officials," he said.
Shortly after, Popovich joined the fray where Michael Malone, the coach of the Nuggets, was conducting his post-match interviews. The exchange between the coaches was almost as long as Popovich's participation in the competition.
Malone: "We were just talking about an NBA record set tonight."
Popovich: "What was the record? What happened? "
Malone: "Someone was thrown in 63 seconds."
Popovich: "Are you serious? This person must have hit someone. Someone gets hit tonight? Someone is cursed or whatever?
And just like that, Popovich was gone for the exit.
"It's unique," said Malone. "I do not know what to say after that."
LaMarcus Aldridge and Lonnie Walker IV each had 16 points for the Spurs, who slipped to eighth with defeat.
"You have to give them credit. They played well, "said DeMar DeRozan, who had 11 points. "It's hard to get into this place, especially back to back. They use their benefits by coming here. They played well. They beat us. We could not take pictures. We have never had anything.
TIP-INS
Spurs: Assistant coach Ettore Messina took over from Popovich on the bench. … The Spurs have never driven.
Nuggets: Denver has 24-2 this season while his opponent has less than 100 points. … F Jarred Vanderbilt entered the game late for his 20th birthday. Monte Morris and Malik Beasley each scored 19 points. … The Nuggets went to 32-7 at the Pepsi center. It's the best house brand in the West.
UNSELFISH PLAY
Denver rose to 11-1 on the second consecutive night.
"I have been part of very good basketball teams, and very good basketball teams, and I have never seen a team beat 11-1 in the second night face to face "said Malone. "It's an incredible statistic for us."
HALL OF FAMER
The Air Force Academy recently announced that Popovich would be inducted into the school's Hall of Fame Athletics Hall of Fame. Popovich was captain of the Falcons in 1970 and later became assistant coach.
"I'm surprised they did not do it earlier because the 14 points of my average were pretty impressive," pops Popovich. "The 37 fans of every game had a crazy night and really applauded me. It's amazing, it took so long.
"Everything related to the Academy is truly a pleasure and an honor."
THE SOFTNESS OF THE HOME
Being from Colorado, Spurs' goaltender ticket demand, Derrick White, was about 20.
"And that's still not enough," said White, who finished with five points. "It's always special to go home and play in front of your friends and family, people who have been there all your life."
FOLLOWING
Spurs: In Washington on Friday.
Nuggets: Start your day with Portland Friday at the Pepsi Center.
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