DENVER — Manu Ginobili sparked the Spurs to a big fourth-quarter lead and he drew the foul that negated Carmelo Anthony’s winning basket in San Antonio’s 113-112 escape from the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night.

The Spurs led 111-108 with 8 seconds left when Anthony got behind the defense for a dunk. Antonio McDyess’ inbounds pass was deflected by J.R. Smith off Ginobili’s head and into the arms of Anthony, whose basket gave the Nuggets a 112-111 lead with 7.1 seconds left.

Ginobili’s running bank shot at 4.2 seconds put the Spurs back on top 113-112.

After a timeout, Anthony got the inbounds pass from Ty Lawson and drove the lane. He ran over Ginobili as he made a buzzer-beater as the crowd went crazy.

But the officials called off the basket for an offensive foul.

After a review, the officials put .4 seconds back on the clock, and the Spurs inbounded the ball for the win.

It was the second game-winner in as many days for Ginobili, who hit a fallaway jumper as time expired Wednesday, lifting San Antonio over Milwaukee 92-90.

San Antonio improved to an NBA-best 22-4 while dropping the Nuggets to just their second loss in 13 home games.

Tim Duncan had 28 points and Tony Parker added 24 for the Spurs, but it was Ginobili’s spurt that sparked San Antonio.

Averaging 20.2 points, Ginobili had just three points when he sliced in for a backdoor basket, hit a step-back basket — like the one he used to beat Milwaukee — and then hit a deep 3-pointer to give the Spurs a 94-88 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Three minutes later, the lead was 102-93 and the Nuggets were calling another timeout to figure out how to stop the Spurs, who had trailed for the first 32 1/2 minutes but suddenly seemed unstoppable.

The Nuggets found a way to claw back and make the final minute an exciting, if disheartening one.

Anthony led Denver with 31 points and Arron Afflalo scored 20.

Also on Thursday:

Nets 97

Wizards 89

NEWARK, N.J. — Devin Harris had 29 points and nine assists and Brook Lopez added 18 points to lead New Jersey past Washington to snap an eight-game losing streak.

Celtics 102

Hawks 90

BOSTON — Kevin Garnett had 17 points and 14 rebounds — one of three Boston players with a double-double — to lead the Celtics to their 12th straight win. Paul Pierce had 15 points and 10 assists and Glen “Big Baby” Davis had 18 points and 10 rebounds.