Spurs shut down Nuggets

Tony Parker scored 17 points to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 95-80 win over the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night in San Antonio.

Not even the return of Allen Iverson could boost Denver. Iverson missed nine of the Nuggets’ last 10 games before the All-Star break with a right ankle sprain. He scored nine points.

“The shots that I took, I know I can hit with my eyes closed,” said Iverson, who went 3 of 11 from the field. “Maybe I should have closed them. I took 11 shots, and I thought I got 11 good looks.”

Iverson said his ankle bothered him on a couple of plays “but for the most part, I was all right.

“Usually when I come back from injury, I have my rhythm back. I didn’t today,” he said.

Manu Ginobili added 14 points and Tim Duncan had 12 during the Spurs’ first home game since they went 4-4 on an eight-game road trip.

Carmelo Anthony led Denver with 15 points, Nene had 13 and DerMarr Johnson had 11. Anthony and Iverson combined for just 24 points. Their previous low when playing together was 49.

“It’s going to take some time,” said teammate Marcus Camby. “And those guys haven’t had a lot of time together.”

It was the Spurs’ third straight win. It was Denver’s second loss in a row.

Bobcats 104, Hornets 100: At Charlotte, N.C., Raymond Felton had 21 points and 11 assists and outplayed Chris Paul in a battle of second-year point guards to lead Charlotte over New Orleans.

Bobcats rookie Adam Morrison scored 18 on 6-of-16 shooting from the floor.

Wizards 112, Timberwolves 100: At Washington, Gilbert Arenas tossed in 38 points to lead the Wizards past Minnesota.

Arenas hit just 1 of 8 from 3-point range and is 10 of 57 from long distance over his last seven games.

Pistons 84, Bucks 83: At Milwaukee, Chauncey Billups scored 19 and Detroit notched the victory when Mo Williams missed a last-second shot for the Bucks.

Knicks 100, Magic 94: At New York, Jamal Crawford and Eddy Curry each scored 20 points to lead the Knicks over Orlando.

New York surpassed last season’s victory total with its 24th win.

Bulls 106, Hawks 81: At Chicago, Chris Duhon scored 17 points and the Bulls held Atlanta without a field goal in the third quarter en route to the victory.

Trail Blazers 103, Jazz 100: At Portland, Brandon Roy scored 27 points to lead the Trail Blazers to a victory over Utah.

Suns 115, Clippers 90: At Los Angeles, two-time MVP Steve Nash had 13 points and 12 assists in his return, and Shawn Marion scored 31 points to lead Phoenix over the Clippers.

Nash had missed four games with right shoulder inflammation.

•Doug Christie, who signed a second 10-day contract with the Clippers earlier this month, was suspended by the team.

Christie informed the Clippers last weekend that he no longer wanted to play for them. He was contractually bound to Los Angeles through Tuesday’s game against Phoenix, after which he can sign with another team.

He averaged 2.2 points and 1.8 rebounds in six games for Los Angeles.

Kings 104, Celtics 101: At Sacramento, Calif., Kevin Martin scored 22 points and Ron Artest added 18 as Sacramento sent Boston to its 19th loss in 20 games.

The Kings managed just one field goal and five points in the final 9:37, but still held off the Celtics’ late rally.

•The Celtics have assigned rookie guard Allan Ray to the NBA Development League’s Austin Toros, the team announced.

Ray has appeared in 33 games for the Celtics this season, averaging 4.9 points and 1.1 rebounds.