NBA: San Antonio Spurs edge Denver Nuggets to preserve division lead - Times of India

SAN ANTONIO: The San Antonio Spurs built a big lead and then held off a late charge by the Denver Nuggets for a 121-117 win on Saturday to maintain their position atop the National Basketball Association's Southwest division.

The win was the fifth in six games for the Spurs and snapped a four-game win streak for the visiting Nuggets.

The Spurs received offensive contributions from throughout their line-up as they slowly built a 20-point lead four minutes into the second quarter, before going cold and allowing Denver to pull within seven by halftime.

San Antonio maintained the margin through the third quarter but Denver went on an 11-2 run capped by a three-pointer by Rudy Fernandez to pull within two points midway through the final quarter.

Denver faded briefly and could not recover from a three-point shot by Richard Jefferson that gave the Spurs an eight-point lead with under two minutes remaining.

Seven Spurs players scored in double digits led by reserve guard Daniel Green's season-high 24 points, while the Nuggets were paced by Danilo Gallinari who scored 31 points.