Nuggets Benefit as Spurs Falter

SAN ANTONIO — A fourth quarter that started with so much promise for the San Antonio Spurs turned into an exercise in futility. After making their first three shots, the Spurs missed their next 17.

The Denver Nuggets didn’t shoot much better down the stretch but frustrated San Antonio by playing physical defense in rallying for a 93-87 victory Sunday.

“We’re not a great defensive team for 48 minutes most nights,” Denver Coach George Karl said. “But we have learned somehow this year to play defense in the fourth quarter.”

A 14-footer by Glenn Robinson with 10 minutes 20 seconds left gave the Spurs an 81-76 lead in the first game of the first-round Western Conference playoff series. But after that, San Antonio’s drought lasted until Robert Horry made a three-point basket with nine seconds left. The Spurs were four for 21 in the fourth, and the Nuggets were six for 19.

“We had some great looks,” said Tim Duncan, who missed his seven shots in the fourth quarter. “There were a lot of shots around the basket that I should have made.”

The Spurs stayed ahead until Earl Boykins made a jumper over 6-foot-10 Nazr Mohammed with 1:56 remaining to give Denver an 85-84 lead.

The Nuggets then got a short jumper from Marcus Camby and three free throws from Andre Miller to build a nine-point lead in the final minute.

“There was a lot of energy out there,” said Miller, who scored 31 points to top his previous playoff high of 21 points. “The fourth quarter, we stepped it up.”

Carmelo Anthony had 14 points, Camby 12 and Kenyon Martin 11 for Denver.

Manu Ginobili led the Spurs with 23 points, his career playoff high, and Duncan had 18 points and 11 rebounds.