Denver ? After fouling out midway through overtime, Tim Duncan called his teammates over for a huddle, tugged on their jerseys and told them to finish what he started.

They did.

Duncan had his best game of the series, and Tony Parker scored 11 of his 29 points in overtime, helping the San Antonio Spurs move within a game of clinching the series with a 126-115 victory over the Denver Nuggets late Monday night.

“The guys were great all around — we never gave up,” said Duncan, who had 39 points and 14 rebounds after struggling with foul trouble and poor shooting in Game 3. “We’ve been through this a lot this year and kind of pushed through all of it, so I don’t think anyone of us gave up at any point.”

That’s for sure.

Manu Ginobili provided a spark off the bench for the third straight game, hitting 12 of 16 free throws to finish with 24 points and six assists. Parker finally had success getting into the lane against the Nuggets, hitting 11 of 19 shots and dishing seven assists. And Bruce Bowen played his usual role of agitator, fighting the Nuggets for every inch in the lane.

It all means the Spurs can close out the series in Game 5 today in San Antonio, where the Spurs have lost three times all season — but fell in the series opener to Denver.

“If we don’t finish it in the fifth game we have to come here again,” Ginobili said. “You don’t want to be in that situation, because then you give them a chance.”

Earl Boykins found his shooting touch after three tough games, scoring 32 points, and Carmelo Anthony finally got his stroke against the Spurs with 28. It still wasn’t enough for the Nuggets, who need to win three straight to keep from bowing out in the first round for the second straight year.

“We’re in the NCAA Tournament now — single elimination,” Nuggets coach George Karl said. “If you lose, you’re going to sit a long time. All of us have been there. It’s not a fun place to be.”

Part of Denver’s problem has been that San Antonio has made the series a grind, slowing Denver’s break and turning each game into matchups of halfcourt sets.