Nuggets 102, Spurs 98
DENVER -- Jusuf Nurkic scored 21 points and Emmanuel Mudiay had 20 as the Denver Nuggets defeated the San Antonio Spurs 102-98 on Friday.
Playing one night after losing in Golden State and arriving in Denver in the early morning hours, San Antonio rested six players that accounted for 72 percent of their point production.
Andre Miller, the Spurs' starting point guard, was 20 years older than Denver's Mudiay. San Antonio center Tim Duncan, who tied Jason Kidd for seventh place all-time in games played at 1,391, is 18 years older than the Nuggets' Nurkic.
The Spurs (65-14) lost consecutive games for the first time this season. San Antonio faces Golden State again Sunday at home and coach Gregg Popovich said before Friday's game he plans to use his entire roster. The Spurs are locked into the Western Conference's second seed.
Denver (33-47) snapped a 10-game losing streak to the Spurs, and a three-game losing streak overall. The Nuggets are the only team to beat the Spurs and Warriors this season.
Denver's Gary Harris recorded two steals in the final 30 seconds. His steal and dunk with 10.3 seconds left gave Denver a four-point lead. San Antonio's Patty Mills missed a 3 on the Spurs' next possession, and the Spurs were content to let time elapse instead of fouling after Nurkic grabbed the rebound.
Duncan led the Spurs with 21. David West and Kevin Martin had 17 apiece.
NOTES: Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said going undefeated at home this season is "absolutely meaningless. ... What does that get you if you're undefeated? Does it win you anything? That's why it's meaningless." The Spurs have won 48 consecutive regular-season games at the AT&T Center, including all 39 so far 2015-16. Golden State holds the record with 54. Boston snapped the Warriors' streak on April 1. San Antonio's streak is the second-longest. ... Former Nuggets guard Andre Miller started for the Spurs. He spent seven seasons with Denver. ... Popovich said F LaMarcus Aldridge is fine after he dislocated his right pinky Thursday night. Popovich said trainers struggled to pop the finger back into place, but it's not expected to be a problem. ... Spurs F Boris Diaw (right adductor) did not play Friday, and Popovich said he did not know if Diaw will play Sunday ... Nuggets F/C Nikola Jokic made his first start of the season at power forward. He has made 52 starts at center. ... Denver F Darrell Arthur was not with Nuggets on Friday so he could attend to a family matter. Nuggets coach Michael Malone said he hopes Arthur will return soon, but he did not say when that will be.