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Duncan, Spurs hold off Nuggets

Tue 11th, March 2008

San Antonio, TX (Sports Network) - Tim Duncan scored 23 points and hauled in 18 rebounds to lead the San Antonio Spurs in a 107-103 victory over the Denver Nuggets at the AT&T Center.

Tony Parker added 16 points for the Spurs, who snapped a two-game skid, but have won 12 of 14 to hold a slim, one-game lead over Houston and a 1 1/2 game lead over New Orleans in the Southwest Division standings. Manu Ginobli and Kurt Thomas gave 13 points each, and Ginobli added 14 helpers. Bruce Bowen and Matt Bonner scored 11 and 10, respectively.

"Matt (Bonner) was very aggressive on both ends of the floor and executed things very well as I thought he did a fine job," Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said.

At 44-19, the Spurs tied the Lakers for the best record in the conference.

Allen Iverson dropped 28 points for the Nuggets, who have let two straight contests slip away as the club sits 2 1/2 games behind Golden State for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. J.R. Smith totaled 22 points, while Carmelo Anthony gave 18. Kenyon Martin tallied 16 points and Anthony Carter had 10.

X-rays revealed Monday that Iverson has a small, non-displaced fracture on the end of his right ring finger, yet he continues to play.

Two Anthony free throws made it 96-94 with a shade under 4 1/2 minutes left, but Duncan immediately tied it with a dunk.

The teams exchanged baskets and a pair from the line from Duncan put the Spurs up two. A huge defensive stop followed and Thomas then drained a jumper from the top of the circle to make it 104-100 with a minute showing on the clock.

After a timeout, the Nuggets inbounded the ball and worked it around until Martin missed a shot in front of the hoop. The Spurs grabbed the rebound, Ginobli was fouled and he hit both shots to put it away, 106-100.

"It's not hard to be mad after this one," Iverson said. "Anyone who is competitive is going to be mad. Especially having control of the game at one point and not pulling it out. The only thing that is going to make this better is a win."

The Spurs were up 27-23 after the first quarter.

The Nuggets went up 58-55 at the break thanks, in large part, to Iverson's 15 first half points and Anthony's 14.

An Iverson fadeaway and a Carter finger-roll opened a 72-65 Denver lead with a bit over seven minutes left in the third quarter.

Still down by seven moments later, a Parker bucket was the first two of nine straight unanswered San Antonio points which gave the Spurs a 77-75 lead with just under three minutes to go.

The Spurs outscored the Nuggets 7-5 to close out the third and take an 84-80 lead into the final 12 minutes of play.

A Thomas jumper put the Spurs up six, though, Iverson answered with six points and Eduardo Najera hit a pair from the line to make it 88-86 in Denver's favor.

The teams traded buckets and an Ime Udoka layup brought the Spurs within one, 94-93, with 5:51 left in regulation.

Game Notes

The Spurs avenged a 109-96 loss to the Nuggets on Friday...The Nuggets outrebounded the Spurs 46-39...There were 16 lead changes in the game...Attendance was 18,797...Denver has lost 12 of 15 at San Antonio.

Where the players come to play and STAY.