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Spurs clamp down on Nuggets

San Antonio guard Manu Ginobili races past Denver defender Nene for a first-quarter layup as the Spurs routed the Nuggets in Game 2 to knot the series. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press
San Antonio guard Manu Ginobili races past Denver defender Nene for a first-quarter layup as the Spurs routed the Nuggets in Game 2 to knot the series. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

The Denver Nuggets expected San Antonio to come out hard and fast in Game 2, and the Spurs didn’t disappoint them.

But what did disappoint the Nuggets on Wednesday in San Antonio was the way they reacted.

The Spurs made nine of their first 10 shots and then outscored Denver by 20 points in the second quarter en route to a 104-76 win that evened their first-round playoff series at one win each.

“Any loss like that is embarrassing,” said Denver’s Carmelo Anthony, whose team shot just 36 percent. “After the first game we expected someone to get better. They were the team that got better.”

Game 3 of the best-of-7 series will be played Saturday night in Denver, with Game 4 scheduled for Monday.

San Antonio, which lost the opener Sunday after missing 17 straight shots down the stretch, went back to basics on offense – that is, they got the ball to Tim Duncan.

Tony Parker scored 12 points in the first period, matching his total for all of Game 1. He finished with 19 points.

Duncan had 24 points, while Manu Ginobili added 17 points in 18 minutes. Brent Barry, who started in Ginobili’s place, made all four of his 3-pointers for 16 points.

DerMarr Johnson led Denver with 12 points.

Bulls 113, Wizards 103

Kirk Hinrich found his shooting touch and Chicago is headed to Washington with a 2-0 lead over the Wizards in another opening-round playoff series.

Hinrich scored 21 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter and the Bulls overcame a strong start by the visiting Wizards for a victory.

Games 3 and 4 of the best-of-7 series will be played at the MCI Center on Saturday and Monday.

Hinrich rebounded from a tough 8-for-23 shooting night in Chicago’s 103-94 win in the opener, hitting 12 of 15 shots. Antonio Davis added 18 points and Ben Gordon 14 for the Bulls.

Gilbert Arenas, held to nine points in the opener, scored 39 – 16 in the final period.

NBA may expand drug testing

The NBA and its players’ union are discussing expanded testing for performance-enhancing drugs, and commissioner David Stern said he is optimistic it will be part of the new labor agreement.

The league already tests for recreational drugs and more than a dozen types of steroids. But with steroid use by professional athletes and the impact they have on children under increasing scrutiny, Stern said he believes the NBA should do more.

“I think it’s incumbent upon every sport to just have rules that demonstrate to their fans that, if you’re in the NBA, you submit to a certain amount of testing,” Stern said. “It’s really a covenant with the fans, especially the young ones.”

Around the league

Detroit Pistons fan Dennis W. Pauley, 31, was charged in Auburn Hills, Mich., with throwing an object onto the court after Philadelphia’s Allen Iverson was struck with a coin during a playoff game. … Kevin McHale will return as the Minnesota Timberwolves’ vice president of basketball operations next season, saying the team’s absence from the playoffs this season is a motivating factor. His first task will be to find a new coach.