SAN ANTONIO — Just like old times, Denver fell to San Antonio, after beating the defending champs four days earlier at Pepsi Center.
On Monday, the Spurs defeated the Nuggets 107-103 in an airtight game at AT&T Center.
The fourth quarter was thrilling, the game tied at 96 with four minutes left, 98 with three minutes left and 100 at the two-minute mark. But after Tim Duncan made two free throws for San Antonio, Iverson missed a fadeaway jumper and the Spurs’ Kurt Thomas hit an open 16-foot jumper at the one-minute mark, to take a 104-100 lead. The Nuggets’ Kenyon Martin missed a shot with 36 seconds left, and that was it.
Denver guard Allen Iverson, who played with a fractured ring finger in his shooting hand, finished with 28 points on 9-for-22 shooting.
With the loss, Denver (37-26) split the four-game season series with the defending champions. Denver hasn’t won the season series against the Spurs since 1987-88. The Spurs (44-19) avoided what would have been just their second three-game losing streak of the season.
At the half, Denver led 58-55, thanks to 53.5-percent shooting and 15 points from Iverson, who shot 4-for-7 in the first two quarters. And after three quarters, Denver trailed by just four, 84-80.
The game was spectacularly intense. Numerous Nuggets earned technicals for yelling at the officials, including Carmelo Anthony, who thought he was fouled, then forcefully bounced the ball toward the official, and then threw a seat cushion hard into the ground.
