The second battle between the current and future faces of the NBA in as many days looked a lot like the first in a couple of ways, but there was also a big difference or two.

Nikola Jokic, Denver’s favorite to win a fourth Most Valuable Player award in the last five seasons, and Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio’s reigning Rookie of the Year who’s a favorite to win his first Defensive Player of the Year award, both had big nights for a second straight night, and the game was once again decided in crunch time.

The biggest difference was that Jokic didn’t end up in foul trouble early in Saturday’s 122-111 overtime win Saturday in San Antonio. When a couple of early fouls forced Jokic from the game earlier than usual in the first quarter of Friday’s game, Nuggets coach Michael Malone went without a true center, using a frontcourt of Michael Porter Jr., Peyton Watson and Hunter Tyson against Wembanyama.

“Wemby’s not your natural five. He’s taking 10 3s a game.” Malone said after Friday’s 3-point loss. “We just felt like Peyton’s length and athleticism could maybe negate some of that, but obviously Wemby had a big night.”

It worked well enough until Wembanyama splashed a couple of deep 3s in the span of 30 seconds early in the second quarter. The second one came with one of Wembanyama’s feet in in the mid-court circle and put San Antonio up nine before Jokic returned to the court.

“There’s nothing you can do to stop an 8-foot-tall guy shooting form half court,” Watson said in the postgame locker room Friday.

Malone went in a different direction Saturday after Wembanyama was the one to pick up a couple of early fouls. DeAndre Jordan played first-half minutes on Saturday, and the Nuggets were also comfortable with Watson or Russell Westbrook matched up on the 7-foot-3 center who turned 21 on Saturday.

Wembanyama still had a big night Saturday, but it wasn’t nearly as damaging as his 35-point night on 14-of-22 shooting, including a 4-for-6 mark from 3, on Friday. On Saturday, 12 of Wembanyama’s 19 shots came behind the arc, and he made just two of them. He used a 5-for-7 night inside the arc to finish with 20 points and 23 rebounds Saturday.

“He’s a special player,” Jokic said Friday. “We know that he is a really good shooter. I think you just make him uncomfortable, make him make a decision. Maybe just be physical to make him do something else.”

Watson closed the game in Christian Braun’s place and received the chain awarded to Denver’s best defender after playing a big part on Wembanyama’s limited effectiveness in San Antonio.

“Great job guarding Wemby,” Malone said in a video shared by the team on social media, as he draped the chain around Watson’s neck. “Everybody bought into the game plan, and we got the win on the road.”

Jokic had another monster night, following his 41-point, 18-rebound and nine-assist showing Friday with 46 points, 10 assists, nine rebounds, two steals and two blocks in Saturday’s win. He scored 14 of his points in the first quarter when Wembanyama spent most of his time on the bench. There were some Jokic vs. Wembanyama matchups, especially in the second half, but the team did a better job of making it hard on the future of the NBA with the 22-year-old Watson leading the way.

“Peyton’s a great defender,” Michael Porter Jr. said Friday. “He can press up into him, not let him walk into a couple of those deeper 3s even though it’s hard to believe that he’ll pull up from there, but he will.”

NUGGETS 122, SPURS 111, OT

What happened: The Nuggets led by three after the first quarter but fell behind 55-54 at halftime. San Antonio extended the lead to 11 by the end of the third quarter only for the Nuggets to fight back and have a chance to win at buzzer before Nikola Jokic’s jumper just missed. Denver dominated overtime, 14-3, to improve to 20-14 on the season.

What went right: Michael Porter Jr. added 28 points and 10 rebounds. Jamal Murray struggled with his shot again but made impact in other areas, grabbing six rebounds, dishing out six assists and recording five steals, including a couple of clutch takeaways.

What went wrong: The Nuggets missed their first 10 attempts from 3-point range before Jamal Murray finally connected with 7:18 left in the second quarter. By that time, San Antonio had hit five 3s.

Highlight of the night: Michael Porter Jr. dunked on Victor Wembanyama on Friday. Christian Braun got Wembanyama’s back up, Zach Collins, in the first half of Saturday’s game. A Russell Westbrook steal started the break, and Braun finished it with a two-handed slam over the late-arriving Collins to tie the game late in the second quarter.

Up next: The Nuggets have a couple of days off before hosting the defending-champion Boston Celtics at Ball Arena on Tuesday.