SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) -- The San Antonio Spurs begin their quest for a third NBA title in seven years when they face the Denver Nuggets in the opener of their Western Conference first-round series Sunday.

Unlike their championship seasons in 1999 and 2003, the Spurs may not have two-time Most Valuable Player Tim Duncan at full strength. He missed 12 games in March-April with a sprained right ankle and still is getting his timing back.

Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker both are averaging 16 points and picked up much of the slack in Duncan's absence, helping the Spurs to the league's best home record (38-3).

San Antonio, which is making its eighth straight playoff appearance, owned the league's best defense (88.3) and was 40-5 in games decided by 10 or fewer points.

By contrast, the Denver Nuggets recovered from a 17-25 mark in late-January to reach the playoffs for the second time in 10 seasons.

After George Karl took over as coach, the Nuggets closed the season 32-8 - winning 25 of 29 after the All-Star break. They lost just once in their final 20 home contests.

Leading scorer Carmelo Anthony and Marcus Camby, who averaged a double-double this season, are two players who have flourished under Karl.

Anthony, who averaged more than 21 points in the final 40 games, improved his shooting accuracy by eight percent. Denver went 43-23 with Camby in the lineup.

The Spurs won the first two meetings against the Nuggets this season but dropped the last two with Duncan sidelined. San Antonio has swept the last two playoff series against Denver in 1990 and 1995.