The decisive moment
Denver controlled the tempo down the stretch and never let San Antonio claw back into single digits in the closing minutes. The Nuggets' offense kept punishing the Spurs in the half court, turning a tight middle-quarters game into a comfortable double-digit margin. By the time the final horn sounded, Denver had banked a 128-118 road win.
By the numbers
- Final score: Denver Nuggets 128, San Antonio Spurs 118
- Margin of victory: 10 points
- Game type: 2025-26 season NBA Regular Season
- Site: San Antonio (home team)
- Denver played without Aaron Gordon (out) and Peyton Watson (hamstring)
- San Antonio was without David Jones Garcia (season-ending ankle surgery) and Carter Bryant (foot, day-to-day)
Denver crossing 128 points on the road is a strong offensive line, and the 10-point cushion reflects the kind of late-game control the Nuggets have leaned on all season.
What it means
For Denver, a road win in San Antonio is the type of result a contender is supposed to bank, especially shorthanded without Gordon and Watson. The Nuggets get to leave Texas with their rotation tested and their depth validated heading into the back end of the 2025-26 regular season schedule. For the Spurs, falling at home to a Western Conference heavyweight underscores how thin the margin is when key contributors like Jones Garcia and Bryant are unavailable.
What to watch next
Denver's next test is whether the bench production that helped cover for Gordon and Watson can carry over against another playoff-caliber opponent. San Antonio will be watching Bryant's foot status closely as the team tries to stabilize its rotation through the closing stretch.