Leonard and Parker lead Spurs, 120-111
SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Kawhi Leonard had 25 points and Tony Parker added 24 as the San Antonio Spurs survived a wild offensive pace to beat the Denver Nuggets 120-111 on Friday night for their fourth straight victory.
Tim Duncan added 15 points for San Antonio, which has won 11 of its past 12 home games.
The Spurs remain in seventh place in the Western Conference, 4 1/2 games ahead of Oklahoma City and a game behind Dallas.
Denver had six players score in double figures, led by 23 from Ty Lawson. Kenneth Faried added 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Nuggets.
San Antonio made its first three shots in typical Spurs fashion: a 3-pointer by Danny Green, a weaving drive and floater by Parker, and a bank shot off a spin move from Duncan. San Antonio would also make its first five 3-pointers, including back-to-back from Manu Ginobili and Marco Belinelli to give the Spurs a 32-21 lead.
With new coach Melvin Hunt screaming for the team to push the ball, Denver's second unit turned a 10-point deficit into a 33-32 lead on J.J. Hickson's dunk a minute into the second quarter.
Both teams shot better than 52 percent and each had at least five players score in double figures. There were 10 lead changes and eight ties.
TIP-INS
Nuggets: Faried tumbled to the baseline holding his right knee with about three minutes left in the game. Faried arose gingerly after remaining on the court for a few minutes and speaking to the team trainer. He remained in the game following the fall. ... Danilo Gallinari has scored in double figures in nine straight games, including four with at least 20 points. ... Will Barton was averaging 14.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists in seven games since being acquired from Portland in a trade, but was held to six points, two rebounds and two assists Friday. ... C Jusuf Nurkic (right ankle sprain) sat out. ... The Nuggets are 9-21 on the road.
Spurs: Duncan had three blocks to surpass former Knicks star Patrick Ewing for sixth overall in career blocks at 2,895. Duncan's former teammate and Hall of Famer David Robinson is fifth with 2,954 blocks. ... Duncan, Parker, Leonard, Green and Tiago Splitter started for a fourth straight game, matching the longest stretch of consecutive starts for the team's projected starting lineup. ... San Antonio has had at least five players score in double figures in the same game 39 times this season. ... The Spurs wore camouflage uniforms in honor of their Military Appreciation Night. ... Coach Gregg Popovich, who normally waves at opposing coaches from the Spurs bench, walked to midcourt to greet and speak to Hunt prior to the game. The two spoke for about two minutes, with Popovich appearing to provide encouragement to the Nuggets' new coach.
UP NEXT
Nuggets: Host Houston on Saturday.
Spurs: Host Chicago on Sunday.