Horry keeps Nuggets down with big basket

Robert Horry did it again.

“Big Shot Rob” made a three-point basket from the right corner with 30 seconds left to secure San Antonio’s 96-89 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday night that gave the Spurs a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven first-round series.

The Spurs can close out the series at home on Wednesday night.

The Nuggets, who blew a 10-point second-half lead, had pulled to 90-89 on Steve Blake’s jumper, which looked like a three-pointer, but his toe was on the line. Tony Parker of the Spurs took the inbounds pass following a timeout, penetrated the lane and kicked out to Horry all alone in the right corner.

Marcus Camby rushed to put a hand up, but Horry scored to give the Spurs a 93-89 lead.

It was only the second basket for Horry, who makes the most of his minutes. He also made a big shot in the Spurs’ win in Game 3 at the Pepsi Center.

Tim Duncan led the Spurs with 22 points, although he was frustrated at not getting to the free-throw line more than six times. Manu Ginobili scored 18 points and Parker had 15.

Carmelo Anthony led the Nuggets with 29 points and Allen Iverson had 22, although he had another poor shooting performance -- nine for 25. Camby had 10 points and 17 rebounds, and Nene had 18 points.

The Nuggets looked in control at 71-62 when Anthony was called for his fourth offensive foul. Unlike the first three charges, this one looked questionable. Horry wasn’t set when Anthony barreled into him.

No matter. Anthony went to the bench with 91 seconds left in the third quarter and the Spurs began their final charge in beating the Nuggets for the sixth time in eight playoff games at Denver over the last four seasons.

Duncan, at the center of the officiating flare-up that got Joey Crawford suspended, grew increasingly frustrated, however, at not getting calls. After Camby slapped away one of his shots, Duncan stared down official Bill Kennedy for 10 seconds as his teammates walked past him during a timeout. Kennedy ignored him and didn’t whistle a technical the crowd was calling for.

Houston 96, Utah 92 -- Shaking off an early injury, Tracy McGrady had 26 points and a career-high 16 assists at Houston to move one game away from advancing in the playoffs for the first time with the Rockets taking a 3-2 series lead over the Jazz.

Yao Ming scored 21 points, securing the victory with two free throws with 11 seconds left. Yao also grabbed 15 rebounds, the last one in the closing seconds after Deron Williams missed a desperation three-pointer.

“It’s up to me to make my teammates better and to get them the open shots,” McGrady said. “If I penetrate and be aggressive and guys collapse on me, then those guys got to be confident enough to knock down shots on the perimeter.”

Back home after two lethargic losses in Utah, the Rockets rediscovered their shooting touch, going 35 for 75 from the field (47%) and 12 for 24 from three-point range. They also outrebounded Utah, 42-39.

Utah’s Carlos Boozer scored 26 points but had only eight rebounds, denied a double-double for the first time in the series. Derek Fisher added 17 and Williams had 13 for the Jazz.

McGrady limped off the court with 1:14 left in the first quarter because of a hip pointer but came back minutes later to score 20 in the final three quarters. He said he wasn’t worried about the injury affecting him in Game 6.

The Rockets can win a series for the first time since 1997 Thursday at Utah. The Jazz dominated the first two games there and haven’t lost to Houston at home since March 2005.