Spurs hold league-best record
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?San Antonio Spurs' Tony Parker works the ball around Washington Wizards' Josh Howard, who falls to the floor, during the first quarter of their NBA game in San Antonio on Sunday. The Spurs won 94-80. |
Tony Parker scored 20 points and made 14 assists to help the San Antonio Spurs rebound from their worst loss of the season with a 94-80 victory over the Washington Wizards on Sunday.
Manu Ginobili added a team-high 21 for the Spurs who were beaten 101-123 by the Orlando Magic on Thursday, a defeat that had snapped San Antonio's 10-game winning streak.
The Spurs knocked down 10 three-pointers and held a 16-point lead after three quarters to improve their NBA-best record to 26-4. San Antonio will meet the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers today.
"We talked about it this morning at shoot around - make sure we respect (Washington) and prepare for the Lakers," Parker told reporters. "We played well tonight. We moved the ball and made some open shots."
San Antonio has thrived this year with a balanced offense despite career-low point and rebound averages from veteran Tim Duncan.
The 34-year-old Duncan had just five points and nine rebounds as the Spurs took a six-point lead into halftime before polishing off the shorthanded Wizards.
Rashard Lewis led the Wizards with 21 points and 12 rebounds in just his second game with the team after being acquired from the Orlando Magic in a trade for Gilbert Arenas last week.
The trade is expected to provide more opportunity for top draft pick John Wall, who came off the bench and scored four points in his first action since missing five games with a bruised knee. He has missed 12 games due to injury.
"You can see John (Wall) is a little rusty," said Wizards coach Flip Saunders. "It's going to take us some time to get him back in the fold."
Washington was also without Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee. Local media reported they had been suspended for one game after getting involved in a nightclub altercation on Friday.
In Los Angeles, rookie Blake Griffin scored 28 points and 12 rebounds for his 18th straight double-double to help the Clippers beat the Phoenix Suns 108-103 for the first time in 10 games.
Eric Gordon scored 24 points, and Baron Davis had 15 points and nine assists. Newly acquired Mickael Pietrus had a season-high 25 points for Phoenix, and Steve Nash finished with 21 points and 15 assists.
In Auburn Hills, Michigan, Carlos Boozer had 31 points and 11 rebounds, and Derrick Rose added 23 points and a career-high 12 rebounds in the Chicago Bulls 95-92 overtime victory over the Pistons.
Detroit sent the game to overtime when Charlie Villanueva tipped home a missed shot with 0.6 seconds left. The Pistons missed three shots on the possession, but grabbed all three offensive rebounds.
In Denver, Jrue Holiday scored 22 points, Thaddeus Young added 20 and Philadelphia rallied in the fourth quarter to beat Denver 95-89.
Elsewhere, it was: Timberwolves 98, Cavaliers 97; Hornets 93, Hawks 86; and Grizzlies 104, Pacers 90.
