Nuggets at Spurs
The Denver Nuggets haven't won in San Antonio in nearly six years and strive to halt a 10-game losing streak in the city when they visit the Spurs on Tuesday. San Antonio is a stellar 72-19 all-time at home against the Nuggets and last suffered a setback to Denver at the AT&T Center on March 4, 2012.
The Nuggets were vying for a season-best fourth straight victory before succumbing to the Boston Celtics 111-110 on Monday despite recovering from a 20-point deficit. "There are no moral victories," Denver coach Michael Malone told reporters, "but against the best team in the Eastern Conference, we gave ourselves a chance to win. That’s all you can ever ask for, so I’m proud of our guys for that fight." San Antonio has been spotty while splitting its last 16 games as it attempts to stay on course until star small forward Kawhi Leonard (quadriceps) returns to the court. Second-year shooting guard Bryn Forbes is playing well with nine double-digit scoring outing this month, including a season-best 23 points in Sunday's 113-98 victory over the Sacramento Kings.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, Altitude2 (Denver), FSN Southwest (San Antonio)
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (26-24): Shooting guard Jamal Murray has made a pronounced rise in his second NBA season with his scoring average sitting at 16.2 after a 9.9 figure as a rookie. The 20-year-old has scored 30 or more points in four of the past 19 games and he continues to take more responsibility in late-game situations, scoring a tying hoop with 43.1 seconds left Monday and another to bring Denver within one with 28.1 seconds to go. "I just got to get it going," Murray said afterward. "This team is looking for me to give energy, give pace, and give a spark to the team."
ABOUT THE SPURS (33-19): Veteran guard Manu Ginobili (thigh) returned from a six-game absence to score 15 points against the Kings and the 40-year-old said he notices it takes longer to heal from ailments. "Last year I felt like every bruise and every ache, I was recovering very fast," Ginobili told reporters. "This one is the first this season, and yeah, it took me a little longer. But I think the hit was harder than we all thought because it was a lot of blood in the area, so it took us time to get it out of there." New starting point guard Dejounte Murray was 6-of-6 shooting while contributing 14 points, 10 rebounds and six assists versus the Kings and is averaging 13.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists over the past four games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Spurs have won the past four meetings, including a 112-80 home thrashing Jan. 13.
2. San Antonio All-Star PF LaMarcus Aldridge has failed to reach the 20-point mark in four of his past five games - the exception being a 30-point performance in a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
3. Denver SF Wilson Chandler (migraine) will likely miss his second straight game while C Mason Plumlee (calf) will remain in Denver and undergo an MRI exam after he departed in the fourth quarter Monday.