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For the second time in as many games, San Antonio Spurs rookie Keldon Johnson on Wednesday set a new career-high with 20 points during a 132-126 loss to the Denver Nuggets.
Johnson erupted for 13 of his 20 total points in the fourth quarter as he went a perfect 6-of-6 from the field to keep the Spurs around for the first few minutes of the period. He finished the game by shooting 7-of-10 from the field, including 2-of-2 from 3-point range.
Johnson stayed aggressive throughout the game and made a number of tough finishes at the rim. Perhaps most important, he looked confident on the floor and didn’t hesitate to drive to the basket and force contact.
After logging just nine appearances prior to the season shut down, Johnson has taken full advantage of his opportunity during the restart and is beginning to look like a first-round pick.
Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich has used the restart as a chance to develop some of the younger players and Johnson has certainly produced in his role after setting a previous career-high with 15 points on Monday.
With the loss, the Spurs are still very much alive in the playoff race in the Western Conference but will face a tough road with six teams all within 3.5 games of each other.
The Spurs play next on Friday vs. the Utah Jazz.
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