Nuggets rally, get even in playoffs

Jamal Murray scored 21 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, and the host Denver Nuggets rallied from down 19 to beat the San Antonio Spurs 114105 in Game 2 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series on Tuesday night.

Nikola Jokic had 21 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists, Gary Harris scored 23 points, and Paul Millsap had 20 for Denver. The Nuggets tied the series 1-1 and ended San Antonio’s seven-game playoff winning streak in Denver. Game 3 is Thursday in San Antonio.

DeMar DeRozan scored a playoff career-high 31 points, and LaMarcus Aldridge had 24 points for the Spurs.

The Nuggets struggled to make shots deep into the third quarter but found their rhythm in the fourth quarter by hitting nine of their first 11 field goals in the final period to storm into the lead.

Murray, who missed his first eight shots, got hot. He hit five straight shots in the fourth, including two straight and a pair of free throws that gave Denver a 99-97 lead, its first since 1716.

LEONARD LIFTS RAPTORS >> Kawhi Leonard scored 37 points on 15-for-22 shooting from the field, and the Toronto Raptors defeated the visiting Orlando Magic 11182 to even their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series at 1-1.

Aaron Gordon scored 20 points for the Magic, which split the regular-season series 2-2 with the Raptors. Terrence Ross added 15

points for Orlando while Evan Fournier scored 10 points.

The best-of-seven series moves to Orlando for the next two games, Friday and Sunday.

The Raptors were ahead by 12 points at halftime and took a 24-point lead into the fourth quarter.

DIRK SEES HIMSELF AS A MENTOR >> Retired Dirk Nowitzki, who spent 21 seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, could see himself returning to basketball as coach in a few years Today: at Milwaukee, 5 p.m. Saturday: at Detroit, 4p.m. Monday: at Detroit, 4p.m. x-April 24: at Milwaukee, TBA x-April 26: at Detroit, TBA x-April 28: at Milwaukee, TBA time, the German said. The 40-year-old future Hall of Famer ended his sparkling career last week after more than two decades at the Mavericks with whom he was crowned NBA champion in 2011 and was a 14time All Star.

“After one or two years I can see myself being happy … as a coach or a manager,” Nowitzki told Germany’s Die Zeit newspaper.

“I would like to be a mentor for a young player and accompany them through their career in my own way.”