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Spurs advance after eliminating Nuggets
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-05-05 14:00
SAN ANTONIO - San Antonio looked tired and the win was more than just a little ugly. But the Spurs are moving on in the Western Conference playoffs and the Denver Nuggets are done.
San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) celebrates with teammate Manu Ginobili (20), of Argentina, against the Denver Nuggets during the fourth quarter of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series in San Antonio, Wednesday, May 4, 2005. San Antonio won 99-89, winning the series 4-1. [AP] |
Tony Parker scored 21 points, Tim Duncan had 18 points and 11 rebounds and the Spurs eliminated the Nuggets with a 99-89 victory Wednesday night. After dropping the first game in the series, the Spurs won four in a row.
San Antonio, which has lost only four times on its home court this season, moves on to a second-round matchup with Seattle.
Spurs fans who left early in Game 1 as their team floundered down the stretch stayed for all of this one as the San Antonio didn't seize control until late in the fourth quarter.
After twice falling behind in the third, the Spurs slowly pulled away in the final period. Glenn Robinson, who was cut by New Orleans in March and signed as a free agent just last month, hit a jumper and then followed with a long 3-pointer that made it 80-72 with 7:35 to play. The lead reached as high as 12.
Manu Ginobili added 18 points and Robert Horry scored 17, including a pair of key 3-pointers in the third for the Spurs.
Denver couldn't find the same game that won Game 1 and rallied them to overtime in a Game 4 loss on their homecourt.
Carmelo Anthony, who complained after Monday night's loss he didn't get enough touches, finished with 25 points for Denver. Andre Miller added 16 points for the Nuggets.
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