Denver ? San Antonio spent most of the regular season trying to take some of the pressure off Tim Duncan.

Now that experience is paying off in the playoffs.

Manu Ginobili provided a spark off the bench for the second straight game, and Robert Horry hit two big three-pointers in the fourth quarter, helping the Spurs beat Denver, 86-78, Saturday night for a 2-1 series lead.

San Antonio has tried to turn each game into a halfcourt grind and take Denver out of its running game. Except for Game 1, which Denver won in San Antonio, the Spurs have been successful.

The Spurs held the Nuggets to two points in transition in Game 2 and stuck to their grind-it-out style in Game 3 to take reclaim home court advantage.

Ginobili had 32 points, and Horry finished with 13.