After a slow start which was further marred by injuries, the San Antonio Spurs have a chance to move above .500 for the first time this season.

Unfortunately, the Denver Nuggets have been playing even better than they have recently.

The Spurs look to continue their home dominance over the surging Nuggets when the teams meet Wednesday for the first time this season.

With the starting backcourt of Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili sidelined with injuries, it's not a big surprise that San Antonio (5-5) has started slowly this season. The Spurs, however, have played much better recently, winning three straight and four of five.

Improved defense has been the biggest catalyst in the turnaround.

The Spurs allowed 105.0 points during a 1-4 stretch to start the season, but have since limited opponents to 81.6 during the last five games.

On Monday, San Antonio beat the Clippers 86-83 as Roger Mason scored 21 points, hitting a 3-pointer with 8.4 seconds remaining. Tim Duncan had 20 points, 15 rebounds and a season-high six blocked shots.

"Obviously we're short-handed, but we've found a way to win games," said Duncan, who is averaging 23.9 points. "It's on my shoulders a little bit more. There's going to be a learning curve with everybody."

Duncan praised Mason for stepping up in Parker and Ginobili's absence. Mason was drafted by Chicago 2002, and after spending time with Toronto and Washington, was signed as a free agent by the Spurs in July.

Mason is averaging 14.5 points this season after posting a career-best 9.1 with the Wizards in 2007-08.

"He's been great for us, he's gotten great results," Duncan said. "When (Parker and Ginobili) come back, he's going to have an even bigger role. People will be paying more attention to them."

The Spurs have always fared well at home against the Nuggets (6-4), winning 30 of 36 meetings there since the start of the 1991-92 season.

Denver, though, has been impressive since trading Allen Iverson to Detroit for Chauncey Billups on Nov. 3. The Nuggets have won three straight and six of seven with Billups on the court, including a 114-105 victory over Milwaukee on Tuesday.

Linas Kleiza scored a season-high 25 points, Carmelo Anthony added 17 and five other players finished in double figures. It was Denver's highest scoring game of the season and the first time in five games it broke 100 points.

"Having Chauncey and everybody, we're trying to figure each other out," Kleiza said. "I think we're doing a great job; everybody's getting involved."

While Denver's recent winning stretch does happen to coincide with Billups' arrival and Iverson's departure, it also comes at the expense of several of the NBA's weaker teams. Five of the last six wins have come against teams with losing records, and all six of the wins have been by 10 or fewer points.

The Nuggets, though, expect to get a bigger test in their next two games. After visiting the Spurs, they take on the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on Friday.

"It was a solid win, and we have a great opportunity on the road against two of the best teams in the NBA,'' Nuggets coach George Karl said. "And we fought hard to get here and I think you'll see us continue to fight hard."