Possibly the only person on the planet capable of contesting Nikola Jokic’s signature shot did just that on the most important possession of Friday’s game at Ball Arena.

“Of course, he can do it, because he’s a special player,” Jokic said of Victor Wembanyama after San Antonio’s 113-110 win over the Nuggets on Friday at Ball Arena.

After Spurs forward Julian Champagnie stepped out of bounds with 17 seconds left and gifted the Nuggets an opportunity at a game-winning shot, Denver went in a predicable direction. Nuggets coach Michael Malone called timeout and went to his trusted two-man game between Jokic and Jamal Murray. With 10 seconds left, Jokic faced up against Wembanyama and went to work. He backed down the slight 7-foot-3 reigning Rookie of the Year on the right block and went to the Sombor Shuffle, his one-footed fadeaway that has buried plenty of teams in the past.

Wembanyama’s unique, eight-foot wingspan, forced Jokic to reconsider taking his 37th shot of the game. The move is especially effective when Jokic can use his size and bump his opponent off their spot, but Wembanyama negated that plan.

“I couldn’t get any contact, because he was kind of using his arms,” Jokic said. “I couldn’t get really into him.”

Jokic tried to throw a cross-court pass in midair, but Devin Vassell picked it off and threw down a dunk that gave the Spurs a 3-point lead with 1.7 seconds left.

“The ball got to Nikola and Jamal, playing two-man game, and Nikola had the ball. He tried to make a play, and they were able to get the steal,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said after Denver’s 113-110 loss to the Spurs.

“I can’t remember how many times I’ve seen us do that on a last possession when you’re down one. We’ll watch the film, try to figure out what we can do better.”

Malone didn’t take a timeout, and Michael Porter Jr.’s potential game-tying heave from near midcourt wasn’t close even if he got it off in time.

“I don’t know if coach tried to call timeout, but I think when a team is up 3 nowadays, teams are zoning up the 3-point line. Then, they’re going to foul as soon as you get the ball in,” Porter said. “So, sometimes it’s better to not call the timeout.”

Jokic led the Nuggets with 41 points on 15-of-36 shooting from the field. He took 10 3-pointers, making 3, and went 8 for 9 at the free throw line.

“It seems like the shots that I took, I think every shot was short, especially the 3s,” Jokic said, though he didn’t chalk it up to being tired.

“Of course, Wemby, he makes you take tough shots. He makes you do something different.”

The three-time Most Valuable Player had Wembanyama and his back up, Zach Collins, in foul trouble throughout, though neither fouled out. Jokic added 18 rebounds, nine assists and a couple of steals. The final turnover was just his second in nearly 37 minutes of playing time.

“I love him being that aggressive,” Malone said.

“The way they were playing him, one-on-one coverage and they were down the floor on pick-and-rolls, he shot the 3 ball with confidence. He’s one of the best 3-point shooters in the NBA this year, so I loved how aggressive he was.”

Porter added 22 points, while Jamal Murray (14), Christian Braun (11) and Julian Strawther (11) also scored in double figures for Denver.

Wembanyama led the Spurs with 35 points, 18 rebounds, four assists and two blocks. His final bucket tied the game with a little more than three minutes to go. Denver answered with a 3 from Braun and a Porter dunk to go up five with 2:35 left. San Antonio used a Champagnie 3 and a Keldon Johnson three-point play to regain the lead before Jokic and Chris Paul traded buckets that put the Spurs up one in the final minute.

“We just didn’t close. We’re up five with under two minutes to go, and we just had a couple of breakdowns,” Malone said.

“We just weren’t able to get a shot off. That hasn’t been us. Usually, we’re really good in terms of closing games and finishing games. (We) just weren’t able to do it tonight. … We’ve got a chance to fly down there tomorrow and try to get it back.”

SPURS 113, NUGGETS 110

What happened: San Antonio led by two after the first quarter and extended the lead to 60-52 at halftime. Denver flipped the deficit into a three-point lead to start the fourth, but San Antonio closed the game on a 10-2 run to drop Denver to 19-14 on the season.

What went right: The Nuggets forced Victor Wembanyama to commit eight of San Antonio’s 14 turnovers. Denver turned it over eight times and finished with a 13-9 advantage in points on turnovers.

What went wrong: The Spurs got the better of the bench production. San Antonio’s reserves outscored their Denver counterparts 24-8 in the first half and ended the game with a 37-13 advantage in points off the bench. Julian Strawther scored 11 of Denver’s points off the bench.

Highlight of the game: Nikola Jokic’s ninth assist set up Michael Porter Jr. for one of the best dunks of his carer in the final minutes. With his back to the basket in the post, Jokic found Porter on a cut to the basket. Porter went up immediately, giving him just enough time to throw down a two-handed dunk over Victor Wembanyama that put Denver up five with 2:35 to play.

Up next: The Nuggets and Spurs meet for the second time in as many days Saturday in San Antonio.