Spurs 99 - 91 Nuggets
Final
  for this game

Leonard leads Spurs over Nuggets

Dec 15, 2014 - 5:45 AM

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Denver, CO (SportsNetwork.com) - Kawhi Leonard returned to lead a balanced San Antonio offense with 18 points and the Spurs beat the Denver Nuggets 99-91 on Sunday.

Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili each added 15 points as six Spurs scored at least 10 in the win.

"Luckily we run an offense where a lot of people can touch the ball," said Duncan. "We don't need one guy to set everything up for us."

The reigning NBA champs bounced back from Friday's overtime loss to the lowly Lakers to avoid what would have been their second 1-3 four-game stretch this season.

They played without guard Tony Parker, who sat with a hamstring strain.

But Leonard returned after missing two games with a bruised right hand and set career highs with six blocks and five steals to go along with four assists in a good all-around effort.

Arron Afflalo poured in a season-high 31 points to lead the Nuggets, who have lost six of their last seven. Wilson Chandler added 14 points and Timofey Mozgov scored 11 with 13 rebounds.

"Guys are pressing," said Nuggets coach Brian Shaw. "I know they're tired, they're banged up, we're short-handed and I don't want to use any of that as an excuse, but we just have to find a way to get it done. We can't afford to get pushed around inside."

The Spurs took the lead for good with a 13-0 run in the second quarter that turned a 29-28 deficit into a 41-29 advantage.

They were up 11 at halftime and led by as many as 17 in the third quarter on a Leonard jumper.

The Nuggets got within five points multiple times down the stretch but were never closer than that.

Game Notes

Corey Joseph scored 13 for the Spurs, Splitter added 11 points and Marco Belinelli had 10 ... San Antonio has won four consecutive games in the series ... Nuggets rookie Jusuf Nurkic tied a career best with 10 points and had a career-high eight rebounds ... The Spurs stay on the road to play Portland on Monday ... The Nuggets continue a four-game homestand on Wednesday against Houston.






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