Finley sizzles for Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs don’t have to go back to Denver. They’re headed to the Western Conference semifinals.

With Michael Finley leading the way from behind the three-point line, the Spurs beat the Denver Nuggets, 93-78, Wednesday night to win their first-round series in five games.

After losing the first game of the series at home, the Spurs won four games in a row, ensuring themselves of a second-round meeting with the Phoenix Suns.

Finley set a San Antonio playoff record with eight three-point baskets and finished with 26 points.

“He was fantastic. He came out and served it up well. And he just kept shooting,” said Robert Horry, who made a big three-pointer late in the Spurs’ Game 4 victory.

“That’s the one thing about it ... once you get hot, keep shooting until you miss, and he didn’t miss.”

Tim Duncan had 23 points and 12 rebounds and Tony Parker had 16 points and 10 assists for the third-seeded Spurs, who had a virtual repeat of 2005, when they lost Game 1 at home before winning the next four to eliminate Denver.

Allen Iverson had 21 points for the Nuggets, who scored 11 points in the third quarter and 30 points in the second half. His first basket came with 8:50 to play in the second quarter. Carmelo Anthony had 21 points.

Denver has not won a playoff series since 1994, when it beat Seattle in a best-of-five to become the first eighth-seeded team to knock out a No. 1.

The Spurs made 10 of 21 three-point shots, led by Finley, who began Game 5 shooting nearly 41% from three-point range in the playoffs.

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Portland guard Brandon Roy was selected rookie of the year after leading all rookies with averages of 16.8 points, 4.0 assists and 35.4 minutes in 57 games.

Roy received 127 of a possible 128 first-place votes (638 points) from a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.

Toronto forward Andrea Bargnani was second with 264 points and Memphis guard Rudy Gay was third with 93 points.