The Denver Nuggets played much better in the second half, but it was all for naught in a 114-99 defeat against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night. After being down 26 points at halftime due to a brutal all-around performance, Denver bounced back to outscore San Antonio 60-49 in the final 24 minutes, but it obviously wasn't enough.
In the end, it was just too little too late for a Nuggets team that couldn't find its offense early. With the Spurs doing cartwheels around the Nuggets' defenders, it wasn't hard for San Antonio to build up a sizable lead. And even as the Spurs' shots stopped falling as frequently later in the game, they had enough breathing room to stave off a Nuggets team that was increasingly finding its way.
Corey Brewer played extremely well in the second half to lead the Nuggets with 23 points on 9-of-17 shooting. Andre Miller also played well, adding 20 points and seven assists, while Arron Afflalo struggled early with his shot but still finished with 19 points. DeJuan Blair had a big game for the Spurs with 28 points and 12 rebounds, as all five San Antonio starters scored 16 or more points on the night. Tony Parker also had a double-double with 16 points and 12 assists.
For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more on this upcoming game, visit Nuggets blog Denver Stiffs and Spurs blog Pounding The Rock. Head over to SB Nation NBA for more news and notes around the league.