|
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME FLOW
DENVER (AP) – Without the element of surprise, the Denver
Nuggets were no match for Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs.
|  | | San Antonio's Tim Duncan might look tied up here, but he got loose of the Nuggets to score 36 points.
|
Duncan scored 15 of his 36 points in the third quarter and had
13 rebounds as the playoff-bound Spurs beat the Nuggets for the
first time in three games this season, 101-80 Thursday night.
"They surprised us a couple times, so we came in here really
focused knowing that we had to match their energy," Duncan said.
"We didn't want to drop a third one to them. It was definitely
incentive."
Derek Anderson added 17 points to help the Spurs maintain their
2½-game lead over Sacramento for the top spot in the West. San
Antonio (53-22) also is one game ahead of Philadelphia (52-23) in
the push for the NBA's best record.
"It's incredible to see where people are and how important
these last couple games are," Duncan said. "As close as it's been
all season, you'd think somebody would break away, but it really
hasn't happened. We're all there."
Robert Pack had 20 points to lead five Nuggets in double
figures, but San Antonio's reserves outscored Denver's bench 40-12.
Antonio McDyess, playing with a dislocated kneecap, had 13 points
and 10 rebounds for the Nuggets, who had six players nursing some
type of injury.
"We have a number of people trying to play hurt, McDyess being
one of them," Denver coach Dan Issel said. "It certainly doesn't
help their performance or help our ability to win the game."
After beating the Portland Trail Blazers without McDyess and
starting point guard Nick Van Exel (suspended) two nights earlier,
the Nuggets put up only a marginal fight against the Spurs.
Denver cut a 12-point halftime deficit to three by scoring the
first nine points of the third quarter, but Duncan scored 11 points
as part of 20-7 run over the next 6:18. The Nuggets never got
closer than 13 points the rest of the way.
"They pretty much dictated the game with their inside game,"
Denver forward George McCloud said. "Tim Duncan is the best player
in the league. They play with a lot of poise and that is why they
are playing the best ball in the league right now."
San Antonio, the league's top shooting team at 46.2 percent,
finished 35-for-72 from the field and Duncan made 16 of 19 free
throws. Fittingly, the Spurs have won 16 of 19 games.
Van Exel, who was suspended for the Portland game after missing
two team workouts without permission, had four points in 27
minutes. He has been slowed by injuries to his foot, knee and back
in recent weeks.
McDyess, who replaced an injured Duncan on the U.S. Olympic team
last summer, also limped visibly at times and scored only two
points in the second half.
"He was a little slow," Duncan said. "The moves that he did
make, they looked pretty solid, but you could tell that he wasn't
100 percent."
The Spurs trailed by six early but closed the half with a 13-4
run and took a 12-point lead into the half when Malik Rose hit a
3-pointer from the corner at the buzzer.
Game notes
Spurs center David Robinson played 20 minutes after leaving
the game Tuesday night against Seattle with back spasms. He needs
nine points to tie Eddie Johnson (19,202) for 32nd on the NBA's
career scoring list. ... Duncan has hit 59 of 67 free throws over
the last four games. ... Denver had been the only Western
Conference team San Antonio had not defeated this year. ... The
Spurs improved to 37-5 in games decided by double figures. ...
Denver center Dan McClintock made his NBA debut. When he was slow to get
off the bench in the second quarter, Issel said:
"If I had to guard Tim Duncan, I'd take my time, too."
 Send this story to a friend
|
|
ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
San Antonio Clubhouse
Denver Clubhouse
RECAPS
New York 93
Washington 80
Sacramento 92
Utah 86
LA Lakers 100
Chicago 88
Dallas 108
Atlanta 94
Houston 91
Seattle 88
San Antonio 101
Denver 80
|
