Denver @ San Antonio preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 8, 2017 ) Denver 100, San Antonio 122

The San Antonio Spurs have been highly successful at home against Denver in recent seasons and look to make it 10 straight wins at the AT&T Center in the series when they host the Nuggets on Saturday. San Antonio hasn't lost to Denver at home since March 4, 2012 and has been equally strong against all opponents this season as it enters the contest with 13 consecutive home victories.

Kawhi Leonard (shoulder) has missed the last three games but is listed as questionable against the Nuggets. The All-Star has played in just eight contests this season, and San Antonio is hoping he will regain his form in the second half of the campaign. Denver ended a season-worst three-game losing streak on Friday with a defensive-minded 87-78 victory over Memphis that represents the fewest points it has allowed in 2017-18. "This is a game that will not be sent to the Hall of Fame," Nuggets coach Michael Malone told reporters. "It was a defensive classic. That's what it was."

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, Altitude (Denver), FS Southwest (San Antonio)

ABOUT THE NUGGETS (22-20): Denver scored just 16 first-quarter points while trailing by 10 and shot just 38.6 percent in a shoddy offensive performance against Memphis. But the Nuggets repeatedly stymied the Grizzlies and the defense was especially sturdy in the second half, when Memphis scored just 31 points. "The defense was unbelievable, especially after that first quarter," Malone said. "We couldn't buy a shot. We had pretty good looks, but our defense stayed the course."

ABOUT THE SPURS (28-15): San Antonio committed 21 turnovers and struggled offensively in Thursday's 93-81 setback against the Los Angeles Lakers, a young team that appeared much more fresh than the Spurs. "That was a pathetic performance by our team, and a lot of the reason for it was the way the Lakers played," coach Gregg Popovich told reporters. "They were very physical, much more physical than we were. Their desire was at a totally different level than ours was." In addition to Leonard, Tony Parker (ankle), Danny Green (groin) and Rudy Gay (heel) all were out of the lineup against the Lakers, with Parker joining Leonard as the players most likely to return to face Denver.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Spurs went 3-0 against the Nuggets last season.

2. Denver SG Gary Harris (family matter) was away from the team on Friday, and it isn't yet known if he will play against the Spurs.

3. San Antonio SG Bryn Forbes scored 18 points versus the Lakers and is averaging 14.2 over his last five games.

PREDICTION: Spurs 107, Nuggets 98