Spurs eliminate Nuggets, face Sonics next

San Antonio looked tired and the win was more than just a little ugly. But the Spurs are moving on in the Western Conference playoffs and the Denver Nuggets are done.

Tony Parker scored 21 points, Tim Duncan had 18 points and 11 rebounds and the Spurs eliminated the Nuggets with a 99-89 victory Wednesday night at San Antonio. After dropping the first game in the series, the Spurs won four in a row.

San Antonio, which has lost only four times on its home court this season, moves on to a second-round matchup with Seattle.

Spurs fans who left early in Game 1 as their team floundered down the stretch stayed for all of this one as the San Antonio didn’t seize control until late in the fourth quarter.

After twice falling behind in the third, the Spurs slowly pulled away in the final period. Glenn Robinson, who was cut by New Orleans in March and signed as a free agent just last month, hit a jumper and then followed with a long 3-pointer that made it 80-72 with 7:35 to play. The lead reached as many as 12.

Manu Ginobili added 18 points and Robert Horry scored 17, including a pair of key 3-pointers in the third for the Spurs.

Denver couldn’t find the same game that won Game 1 and rallied them to overtime in a Game 4 loss on their homecourt.

Carmelo Anthony, who complained after Monday night’s loss he didn’t get enough touches, finished with 25 points for Denver. Andre Miller added 16 points for the Nuggets.

Wizards 112 Bulls 110: At Chicago, Gilbert Arenas foiled a remarkable comeback by Chicago and pushed Washington within one victory of the second round of the playoffs.

Arenas hit a 14-foot jumper at the buzzer, sending Washington to a dramatic victory and a 3-2 series lead. Game 6 is Friday at the MCI Center.

Chicago’s Jannero Pargo hit a 3-pointer, his third of the fourth quarter, to tie the game with 5.2 seconds remaining as the Bulls fought back from a 22-point, second-half deficit.

But after a timeout, Arenas took the ball out front, moved left with Kirk Hinrich guarding him and hit one of the biggest shots of his career.

Larry Hughes scored a career playoff-high 33 points for the Wizards.

Lakers about to begin interview process

Phil Jackson is a leading candidate — but not a lock — to coach the Los Angeles Lakers, Jerry Buss said.

The Lakers’ owner said the formal search for a new coach is about to begin.

“We have a short list of names, which I won’t reveal,” Buss told reporters at the Lakers’ practice facility. “Phil is on the short list. I think he wants to return to coaching, but maybe not next season.”

Jackson’s agent, Todd Musburger, said last week he thought his client was leaning slightly toward returning to coaching next season.

High schooler Williams to enter NBA draft

South Gwinnett High School standout Louis Williams said he will enter the NBA draft instead of attending the University of Georgia.

Williams, the Naismith Trophy High School Player of the Year, announced his decision at his Snellville, Ga., high school. He protected his amateur status by not hiring an agent.

The NBA draft is June 28, and Williams can withdraw his name before June 21 and not lose his college eligibility.

Grizzlies’ Williams fined $10,000

Memphis’ Jason Williams was fined $10,000 by the NBA for improper conduct toward members of the media following the Grizzlies’ playoff loss to Phoenix.

After the Suns swept the Grizzlies in their opening-round series on Sunday, Williams, angered over how he was quoted in a newspaper column, grabbed the pen out of a writer’s hand in the Memphis locker room.

Williams twice took the pen out of the hand of Geoff Calkins, a columnist for The Commercial Appeal. He also screamed in his ear as the reporter tried talking to other Grizzlies.

Cavaliers to interview Pacers executive

The Cavaliers have received permission to interview Indiana Pacers senior vice president of basketball administration David Morway for their vacant general manager position.

Morway, in his seventh season with the Pacers, is in charge of day-to-day basketball operations with Indiana, including the team’s budget and salary cap.