Spurs fall to Nuggets, lose back-to-back games
Spurs fall to Nuggets, lose back-to-back games
Oh, well, the San Antonio forward wasn’t crying foul because he needed to polish a few things — his jumper, his shot blocking — with the postseason right around the corner.
With more shots to go around, Duncan finished with a season-high 21 points, but the depleted Spurs lost 102-98 in Denver on Friday night, ending a 10-game winning streak against the Nuggets.
Jusuf Nurkic scored a career-high 21 points, Gary Harris had two pivotal defensive plays in the waning seconds and Denver knocked off San Antonio for the first time since April 10, 2013.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich gave every starter except Duncan the night off following a loss to the Warriors in Oakland on Thursday.
The second loss in a row means the Spurs cannot join the Warriors as teams that can potentially go a season without losing back-to-back games.
Wanting to keep his regulars fresh and with the second seed in the Western Conference already secured, Popovich sat LaMarcus Aldridge, Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green and Tony Parker.
Jamal Crawford made a three-pointer with 0.2 of a second left and finished with 30 points in an overtime victory for visiting Los Angeles.
Utah lost its second straight game, complicating its bid to clinch one of the final playoff spots in the Western Conference.
Reggie Jackson had 39 points and nine assists and host Detroit clinched its first postseason spot in seven years with the win.
Alexis Ajinca scored 28 points as New Orleans dominated Los Angeles in retiring Lakers star Kobe Bryant’s final game in New Orleans.
Rookie Norman Powell scored a season-high 27 points and host Toronto spoiled a chance for Indiana to clinch a playoff spot.
The Pacers need one win or a Chicago loss to make the playoffs.
Dirk Nowitzki scored 21 points and host Dallas overcame an injury to J.J. Barea while moving to the brink of another playoff spot.
Kemba Walker scored 22 points, Troy Daniels made his first five three-point attempts and finished with 17 points, and host Charlotte completed a four-game season sweep of Brooklyn.