DENVER-
Robert Horry did it again.
“Big Shot Rob” hit a 3-pointer from the right corner with 30 seconds left to seal San Antonio’s 96-89 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday night that gave the Spurs a 3-1 lead in the first-round series.
The Spurs can close out the best-of-seven 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 3 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’s rainbow shot swished to give the Spurs a 93-89 lead.
It was just the second basket of the night for Horry, who makes the most of his minutes. He also hit 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 added 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—9-for-25. Iverson has made just 25 of 70 shots during the Nuggets’ three-game losing streak that followed their Game 1 win in San Antonio.
Camby had 10 points and 17 rebounds and Nene had 18 points.
But again, it wasn’t enough to beat the Spurs, who handed the Nuggets their sixth loss in eight home playoff games over the last four seasons.
Horry’s shot sealed the Spurs’ win but it was Bruce Bowen’s big play that sparked the victory.
With the game tied at 85, Bowen stole Blake’s outlet pass at the top of the circle and raced downcourt for the jam that gave San Antonio the lead for good with 2:58 remaining.
Trying to make up for his mistake, Blake misfired a 3-pointer and Duncan hit one of two free throws to give the Spurs a three-point lead.
Blake’s jumper with 38 seconds left made it a one-point game and that’s when Horry—who is known for his many big shots at the end of playoff games—came up big again, sending the Nuggets to their 20th home loss of the season.
The Nuggets looked like they were 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 went to work.
Horry hit his first 3-pointer and Duncan hit a short jumper to get the Spurs started on their run.
Ginobili’s step-back 3-pointer over Linas Kleiza put the Spurs up 74-73, their first lead since 38-37 and capped their 12-2 run.
The Nuggets closed the first half on a 13-4 run and led 50-42 at halftime behind Camby’s 12 rebounds and three blocks.
Francisco Elson, who signed with San Antonio last summer after the Nuggets declined to match the Spurs’ two-year, $6 million offer, had three putbacks and five rebounds in the opening minutes to keep San Antonio in the game.
Duncan missed his first five shots but when he finally scored with 7:57 left in the half, he quickly followed it up with two more layups and a nifty assist to Fabricio Oberto, who drew two charges from Anthony during the Spurs’ 10-2 run that put them ahead 38-37.
Duncan, who was 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 to the bench during a timeout. Kennedy ignored him and didn’t whistle a technical the crowd was calling for.
Duncan, who wasn’t called for a foul in 41 minutes of Game 3, picked up his first foul Monday in the opening minute of the third quarter and Nene sank two free throws to give the Nuggets their biggest lead, 52-42.
Notes:@ Nuggets F Reggie Evans missed the game to attend his great-grandmother’s funeral in Pensacola, Fla. Evans, who has yet to appear in this series, will rejoin the team for Game 5. … Duncan made his 10th straight NBA All-Defensive first team Monday, and Bowen was the top vote-getter in being selected for the seventh time. Camby made the team for the first time after making the second team the last two seasons.
