Spurs Leave Nuggets in Hole

Tim Duncan is back, Manu Ginobili is still going and the Denver Nuggets are all but done.

Duncan had his best game of the series, Ginobili provided the spark off the bench for the third game in a row and Tony Parker scored 11 of his 29 points in overtime. That helped the San Antonio Spurs move within a game of clinching the series with a 126-115 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday night to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Duncan shook off foul trouble and poor shooting -- five for 19 -- in Game 3, scoring 39 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. Ginobili made only five of 13 shots, but was 12 of 16 on free throws to finish with 24 points and six assists. Parker finally had success getting into the lane against the Nuggets, making 11 of 19 shots and dishing out seven assists.

Earl Boykins found his shooting touch after three tough games with 32 points, and Carmelo Anthony finally got his stroke with 28 for Denver in a game that all but came to a halt, with 73 fouls and 91 free throws -- a perfect fit for the Spurs’ physical style.

It still wasn’t easy.

Denver trailed by as many as 12 in the third quarter before rallying in the fourth. Anthony kept the Nuggets in it in the final minutes, following two free throws by Duncan with a drive, and after Ginobili’s finger roll, Anthony made a baseline jumper to tie the score at 105.

Parker sank a baseline jump shot at the other end to put the Spurs up, then Anthony made two free throws to tie it again with 14.4 seconds left. San Antonio worked the ball to Ginobili, who held it for 10 seconds before driving. But Greg Buckner blocked his leaner and nearly scored from half court as the buzzer sounded.

San Antonio took control of overtime, making its first three shots to go up, 113-107. Duncan fouled out with 2:55 left when Anthony fell on a drive, but the Nuggets couldn’t get closer than four after that.