Eric Gay / AP

Spurs guard Michael Finley  celebrates a three-pointer as Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony looks on during the fourth quarter.

Denver has not won a playoff series since 1994, when they beat Seattle in a best-of-five to become the first No. 8 seed to knock out a No. 1.

The Spurs finished 10-for-21 from beyond the arc led by Finley, who came into Game 5 shooting nearly 41 percent from 3-point range during the playoffs, up from 36 percent during the regular season.

“The last two 3s, I think he didn’t even looked at the rim. He caught it and let it fly with Carmelo on top of him,” Ginobili said. “It was unbelievable. He was really feeling it.”

Iverson missed his first six shots Wednesday. His first field goal came with 8:50 left in the second quarter and it brought the Nuggets within 30-25.

Duncan gave the Spurs a 37-27 lead when he drove to the basket for a dunk with 6:38 left in the half.

Denver chipped away at the deficit and Blake hit a 3-pointer with 31.9 seconds left to give Denver a 45-44 lead. After Robert Horry missed a 3 at the other end for the Spurs, Blake hit another 3 off a pass from Iverson, who had six assists in the half, just as the quarter ended to put Denver up 48-44.

The Spurs opened the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run sparked by Finley’s fourth 3 of the game.

After a slew of misses on both sides, Iverson’s three-point play gave Denver a one-point lead. It was their last of the night as Francisco Elson hit the go-ahead dunk with 6:21 left in the third.

Denver’s frustration was evident as Anthony was called for a personal foul for pushing Ginobili, who didn’t have the ball. On Denver’s next possession he turned the ball over and ran back down the court shaking his head.

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Horry, who sealed Game 4 for San Antonio on Monday in Denver off a 3-pointer with 30 seconds left, hit a 3 to open the fourth quarter and his dunk with 9:43 left gave the Spurs a 70-61 lead.

Finley hit his sixth 3 with just over nine minutes to go and his seventh came halfway through the fourth quarter as the Spurs took an 82-71 lead. His last 3 came with about 2½ minutes left to make it 89-76.

Notes: Nuggets G Anthony Carter saw his first action of the playoffs on Wednesday. He had eight points in almost 14 minutes. ... Denver didn’t score 100 points in any playoff game. The Nuggets scored 100 or more 56 times during the regular season and went 3-23 when they didn’t hit 100. ... The Spurs had 25 assists to the Nuggets’ 16. ... Popovich and Karl shared a handshake and a hug after the game. ... The Spurs’ biggest lead was 17 points. ... Three players hold the playoff record with nine 3-pointers: Ray Allen, Vince Carter and Rex Chapman.

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