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Spurs hope reserves can keep up strong play vs. Nuggets

Nov 19, 2008 - 11:24 AM Denver (7-4) at San Antonio (5-5) 8:30 p.m. EST

SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) -- The San Antonio Spurs are surviving life without Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili thanks to some key contributions from reserves.

The shorthanded Spurs aim for a fourth straight victory on Wednesday against Chauncey Billups and the Denver Nuggets.

The Spurs haven't had the services of Ginobili, who is still recovering from offseason ankle surgery, while Parker has missed the last five games with a sprained ankle. Despite the challenge of missing two stars, the Spurs are playing better recently.

Roger Mason scored 21 points and hit a go-ahead 3-pointer, leading San Antonio to a 86-83 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday. It was the second straight game someone other than Parker or Tim Duncan led the Spurs in scoring.

Michael Finley scored 21 points in a 90-88 win over Sacramento on Sunday.

San Antonio hopes the super subs can help it continue its domination of the Nuggets here. The Spurs have won 30 of 36 meetings here since the start of the 1991-92 season.

That may be harder to do with the Nuggets playing well. Denver has won three straight and six of seven.

Linas Kleiza scored a career-high 25 points and Carmelo Anthony added 17 in a 114-105 win over Milwaukee on Tuesday.

Billups scored 11 points, and is averaging 19.5 points in six games since being acquired from Detroit for Allen Iverson.