[Basketball News]

SAN ANTONIO, May 2 (AP) -- The San Antonio Spurs don't have to go back to Denver. They're headed to the Western Conference semifinals.

With Michael Finley leading the way from behind the 3-point line, the Spurs beat the Denver Nuggets 93-78 on Wednesday night to win their first-round series in five games.

After losing the opening game at home, the Spurs won four straight, and they will have three days' rest before opening the second round at Phoenix on Sunday. The Suns beat the Los Angeles Lakers 119-110 in Game 5 on Wednesday night.

Finley set a San Antonio playoff record with eight 3-pointers and finished with 26 points.

"He was fantastic. He came out and served it up well. And he just kept shooting,'' said Robert Horry, who hit a big three late in the Spurs' Game 4 victory. "That's the one thing about it ... once you get hot, keep shooting until you miss, and he didn't miss.''

It was also a career-best in threes for Finley, who went 8-of-9 from 3-point range.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich called Finley's performance "ridiculous.''

"To be realistic, my career is coming to an end in a couple of years or so. So I'm enjoying the moment,'' said the 34-year-old Finley, who signed with the Spurs in September 2005 and is in his 12th NBA season. "I'm blessed to be playing with some tremendous basketball players, guys like Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan. Those guys attract a lot of attention and I'm just out there doing my job and knocking down shots off of things they create for me.''

Finley's Hot Hand Carries Spurs Into Second Round