DeRozan, Aldridge help Spurs overcome big scoring night by Nuggets' Jokic

LaMarcus Aldridge scored 26 points and DeMar DeRozan added 25 to help the San Antonio Spurs overcome Nikola Jokic's 43 points and beat the Denver Nuggets 120-103 on Thursday night, forcing a Game 7 of the opening round series.

"They've been great at throwing a punch at us and running away with it," DeRozan said. "We tried to sustain that and understand whatever they do we have to match it, be more aggressive, understand we have to keep our rhythm, being aggressive on both ends and we did that."

Game 7 is Saturday in Denver, where the Nuggets had the league's best home record during the regular season. The winner will face Portland.

Jamal Murray added 16 points and Gary Harris had 14 points for the Nuggets.

The Spurs were 4 for 9 on three-pointers in the fourth quarter to overcome Jokic's output.

San Antonio needed the win to continue the series after a listless performance in a 108-90 loss in Denver on Tuesday in which the Nuggets led by as many as 30 points.

Still, the Spurs had another hot start nullified by a better second quarter by the Nuggets.

DeRozan and Aldridge had a hand in the Spurs' first 10 points, combining for six points and four assists. Aldridge drained a three-pointer to put San Antonio up 15-8 with 7:26, leading to a timeout by Denver.

Jokic kept the Nuggets in the game in the third quarter, scoring 17 points on 8-for-9 shooting.

The Spurs were able to regroup beyond the three-point line.

Marco Belinelli looked over at Gregg Popovich after missing a three-pointer in the right corner with just under 11 minutes and the San Antonio coach nodded his head and clapped at the veteran guard. Popovich had a slight smile when Belinelli made his next three pointer a minute later.

Rudy Gay added 19 points and Belinelli had nine.