Spurs top Nuggets twice, as West edge East in All*Star Game.

All*Star Weekend came and went, with the West narrowly besting the East in triple overtime. Meanwhile, the Spurs were able to outlast the Nuggets in a war of attrition with both teams struggling to score (halftime score was in the 30s), then again once the break was over. Two solid road wins behind them, the Spurs now buckle down to finish out the season on top.

In the first meeting, the Spurs led 71-66 as the third quarter buzzer sounded, evidence of the scoring struggle of both teams. San Antone was able to trust its shooters in Mills (17 points, 5-9 3PT) as the game waned on. Kawhi Leonard contributed a leader's 20 points (8-19), and San Antonio's Murray (19 points, 7 rebounds) had an aggressive touch against the Nuggets. Jamal Murray went 5-10 for Denver, but 0-4 from long range. The Nuggets eventually got going, with Michael Porter Jr's 19 points, 17 points by Gary Harris and seventeen points by Paul Millsap with 9 rebounds. Will Barton was chilly on 5-13 for 16 points, but Denver's star attraction Nikola Jokic went 1-8 overall.

For the Spurs, Avery Bradley had 18 points on four three-pointers, 2 steals and 1 block. Rudy Gay had 13 points, and Joakim Noah was a force down low with 15 rebounds. Denver was ice cold on the perimeter at home, making just 3-of-21 shots from long range against twelve by the Spurs. Despite the scoring woes, both teams were in control of the ball, committing very few turnovers.

In the final period, Patty Mills hit some slick shots from three-point territory, as Leonard's own three made it 94-84. The Nuggets whittled San Antonio's thirteen-point advantage down to seven, with three chances late, but shots just wouldn't fall. Leonard's tough driving lay-in (with the made free throw) ended the contest, 102-92. The follow-up battle saw better scoring by the Spurs, winning in a blowout, stretching the awesome streak to 31 consecutive victories, comfortably atop the league standings.