Barnes and Paul lead Spurs past the short-handed Nuggets 113-106

DENVER (AP) — Harrison Barnes scored 20 points to lead six San Antonio players in double figures and the Spurs beat the short-handed Denver Nuggets 113-106 on Wednesday night.

In his second career start, Jaylen Pickett recorded his first triple-double with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

Russell Westbrook scored 30 points, but didn't have any in the fourth quarter, when he missed a running reverse layup that would have tied the game with 4 1/2 minutes remaining.

It was reminiscent of his gaffe one night earlier when he missed an uncontested breakaway layup, then commited a foul with one-tenth of a second left that allowed the Minnesota Timberwolves to steal a 140-139 win in double-overtime.

After Westbrook's miss, Blake Wesley's fastbreak basket at the other end was followed by Sandro Mamukelashvili's dunk as the Spurs pulled ahead 105-99.

The Spurs, playing out the string without injured stars Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox, caught a big break when the Nuggets sat all five of their starters one night after losing to Minnesota 140-139 in double-overtime.

Denver coach Michael Malone challenged his reserves to play just like the starters, saying, “Our identity isn’t just tied to our five starters. Our identity, our culture permeates the entire locker room.”

Denver fell behind by 20 points in the first half and trailed 66-54 at halftime.

The Nuggets took their first lead on Pickett's drive with 10:30 left that put Denver ahead 90-88.

Spurs: San Antonio may be trudging through a lost season, but they did win twice in Denver. Chris Paul scored 17 points and had key back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Spurs a 101-95 lead.

Nuggets: Pickett's performance was a bright spot, as was the Nuggets' bounce-back from a 59-39 deficit.

Mamukelashvili pick-pocketed Westbrook with 3 seconds left in the first quarter, then slammed the ball home to give the Spurs a 33-21 lead. Westbrook was coming off an ignominious ending Tuesday night when he missed an uncontested layup in the closing seconds of Denver’s loss to Minnesota and then fouled Nickeil Alexander-Walker with one-tenth of a second left and a one-point lead.

The Nuggets had just two offensive boards in the first half and the Spurs had just three.

The Nuggets visit Golden State on Friday night, when the Spurs host the Cleveland Cavaliers.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook, left, collides with San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili pulls in a rebound against the Denver Nuggets in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets forward Hunter Tyson, center, passes the ball as San Antonio Spurs forwards Sandro Mamukelashvili, left, and Julian Champagnie defend in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets forward Hunter Tyson, right, drives to the basket as San Antonio Spurs center Bismack Biyombo defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook, right, drives past San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center DeAndre Jordan, right, pulls in a rebound as San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul defends in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook, left, passes the ball over San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets forward Zeke Nnaji, front, drives to the basket past San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook, left, drives to the basket past San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes gestures after hitting a 3-point shot against the Denver Nuggets in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

PARIS (AP) — When Aston Villa coach Unai Emery returns to Parc des Princes for the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, it may stir up some difficult memories for him.

In contrast, Villa's on-loan forward Marcus Rashford will doubtless recall one of his happiest soccer experiences.

For Villa defender Lucas Digne and attacking midfielder Marco Asensio, the trip could be a case of mixed feelings.

Emery was PSG's coach for one of the biggest humiliations in Champions League history.

That was eight years ago, when PSG faced Barcelona in the Round of 16 and became the first team in Champions League history to throw away a 4-0 lead from the first leg, losing 6-1 in the return.

PSG then lost the Ligue 1 title to Kylian Mbappé's Monaco.

A few months later, PSG spent 422 million euros (then $456 million) during the offseason to buy Neymar from Barcelona and Mbappé in a stunning double swoop.

But even they could not save Emery.

He left at the end of the following season after two difficult years during which PSG went out twice in the last 16 of the Champions League, but he also made his mark as a coach willing to stand up to player power.

“It was a difficult time,” Emery said. “For the team to adapt to me and for me to adapt to the team.”

Villa seems to have adapted very well to his methods. The Birmingham-based club is on a seven-game winning run heading into its first quarterfinal in the competition since 1983.

Emery, who has won the Europa League a record four times as a coach, guided unheralded Villarreal to the Champions League semifinals in 2022.

The season after Emery's departure, PSG experienced another Champions League blow.

On that occasion, it was Rashford who dealt it.

He scored a penalty deep into stoppage-time as an injury-hit Manchester United knocked out PSG in the last 16 on away goals, winning 3-1 after losing the first leg 2-0.

The defeat infuriated Thomas Tuchel, who was hired after Emery left. Tuchel said he couldn't understand why some of his players arrived late for the pre-match preparations.

PSG's Qatari owners QSI were preparing for a third season at the helm of the club with new coach Laurent Blanc, and he signed Digne from French rival Lille for 15 million euros (then $16.2 million).

It was a big fee for an unproven 20-year-old defender, but the quick and skillful Digne was impressive at times with his performances at left back.

However, he was unable to hold down a regular place and, after being loaned to Roma, he joined Barcelona in 2016.

His transition to the Premier League, first to Everton and then Villa four years ago, saw him become a consistent and respected Premier League defender.

The 31-year-old Digne recently reached 50 caps for France.

Emery sensed an opportunity during the winter transfer window and got Asensio on loan from PSG until the end of the season.

The 29-year-old Spaniard was not getting many opportunities in PSG coach Luis Enrique's revamped attack.

But he immediately made his mark at Villa, enhancing his reputation as a scoring super-sub.

Heading into Wednesday's game in Paris, Asensio had scored eight goals in 11 games, including three in the Round of 16 against Club Brugge.

His scoring prowess, which was somewhat stifled at PSG, has re-emerged at Villa. But it will not be a surprise to those who watched Asensio earlier in his career with Real Madrid.

As a strong-running attacking midfielder with a superb first touch and a penchant for long-distance shooting, he netted 61 goals in 286 games and won the Champions League three times, scoring in the 2017 final against Juventus.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Aston Villa's Marcus Rashford, center right, celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game with teammate Marco Asensio during the English FA Cup quarter final soccer match at Deepdale, Preston, England, Sunday, March 30, 2025. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

FILE -PSG's Lucas Digne control the ball during his French League one soccer match between Toulouse FC at the Parc des Princes stadium, in Paris, France, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon, File)

FILE - PSG's Marco Asensio celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the French League 1 soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Montpellier at the Parc des Princes in Paris, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)

FILE - ManU's Marcus Rashford , bottom, celebrates after scoring his side's third goalduring the Champions League round of 16, second leg soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Manchester United at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, Wednesday, March. 6, 2019. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File)

FILE - PSG head coach Unai Emery reacts at the end of the Champions League round of 16, second leg soccer match between FC Barcelona and Paris Saint Germain at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday March 8, 2017. Barcelona won the match 6-1 (6-5 on aggregate). (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)