National Basketball Association
San Antonio 91, Denver 80
When: 9:00 PM ET, Friday, November 27, 2015
Where: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
Officials: #74 Curtis Blair, #61 Courtney Kirkland, #49 Tom Washington
Attendance: 17121

DENVER -- Forward Kawhi Leonard scored 25 points and guard Tony Parker added 13 as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Denver Nuggets 91-80 on Friday night to win their fourth game in a row.

Leonard and Parker combined to score all 29 San Antonio points from the middle of the second quarter to the middle of the third.

The Spurs scored the final 12 points of the first half and the first four of the third quarter to turn an eight-point deficit into an eight-point lead.

The Spurs opened the fourth quarter with three straight 3-pointers before Denver scored, extending their advantage to 20. The Nuggets never threatened again.

San Antonio played without forward Tim Duncan and guard Manu Ginobili. Both were given the night off to rest.

The Nuggets enjoyed an 11-point lead in the first half before Leonard and Parker took over.

Denver shot 39.5 percent from the field for the game, including 28 percent in the third quarter. The Nuggets also committed 18 turnovers.

Danilo Gallinari led Denver with 16 points but was only 5 of 15 from the field. Rookie guard Emmanuel Mudiay went 3 of 14 from the field.

Denver lost its fifth game in a row and all four games on a homestand that concluded Friday. The Nuggets begin a five-game trip on Saturday night in Dallas.

It was the 10th time this season the Spurs have held an opponent below 90 points.

San Antonio rookie forward Jonathan Simmons added 12 points, and guards Patty Mills and Danny Green scored nine each.

Guard Will Barton and guard Jameer Nelson had 12 points apiece for the Nuggets.

NOTES: Spurs C Tim Duncan and G Manu Ginobili sat out Friday’s game to rest. Duncan had started all 15 games this season. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said his decisions to rest his veterans is usually a "seat-of-the-pants" choice. He had little trouble picking Friday as a good night for a break. "(Duncan) and Manu knew without me even saying anything that tonight that they'd be out," Popovich said. "It wouldn't matter who we're playing." Friday was the first of a back-to-back for San Antonio, and its second of three games in four nights. ... Rookie Boban Marjanovic made his first start in Duncan's place. The 7-foot-3, undrafted Serbian entered averaging 2.1 points and 3.1 minutes per game. ... Nuggets starting PF Kenneth Faried missed his third straight game with a left ankle sprain. Nuggets coach Michael Malone said Faried went through part of shootaround, but is not healthy enough to return. Darrell Arthur started in his place. ... C Joffrey Lauvergne (lower back strain) returned to the lineup after missing Denver's past 11 games. He started the first three games, but hasn't played since Nov. 1. "Not having our starting center in the lineup has definitely affect us," Malone said. ... Nuggets C Jusuf Nurkic (left patellar tendon repair) has yet to play this season and his return does not appear imminent. Malone estimated Nurkic is still four weeks out. Nurkic, an NBA all-rookie second-team selection in 2014-15, has yet to go through a full-contact practice this season. He had surgery on the tendon in May.
Top Game Performances
 
San Antonio   Denver
Kawhi Leonard 25 Scoring Danilo Gallinari 16
Kawhi Leonard 6 Assists Randy Foye 3
Kawhi Leonard 7 Rebounds Danilo Gallinari 10
Kyle Anderson 3 Free Throws Made Danilo Gallinari 4
Kawhi Leonard 4 Steals Will Barton 2
Kawhi Leonard 5 Blocks J.J. Hickson 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
San Antonio 91 48.0 8-22 11-14 22 42 7 11 19
Denver 80 40.3 7-20 11-13 17 37 2 8 18
Upcoming Games
  • Denver will play their next game on the road against Dallas. The Nuggets have a W/L % of .333 after a win and .400 after a loss.
  • San Antonio will play their next game at home against Atlanta. The Spurs have a W/L % of .769 after a win and 1.000 after a loss.