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Spurs seal West’s top seed as Blazers get burned

By Jeff McDonald

One day after Cleveland’s Manny Harris went Moe Howard on Danny Green’s right eyeball, the Spurs guard still couldn’t stare directly into bright lights.

Luckily, there were none in the immediate vicinity of the ATT Center rims Monday night.

Green hit everything he flung at them in a 124-89 pummeling of the Portland Trail Blazers, going 6 for 6 from the field, 4 of 4 from 3-point range and hitting two free throws en route to 18 points.

“Probably should get poked in the eye more often,” Green said.

It doesn’t take 20-20 vision to see what happens next.

Monday’s victory, the Spurs’ eighth in a row — and a franchise-record eighth straight to come by double digits — cemented the Western Conference’s No. 1 seed.

The Spurs head into their final two games of the regular season, a back-to-back at Phoenix and Golden State beginning Wednesday, with little to play for, and plenty of impetus to treat them as warm-up outings.

After watching Manu Ginobili leave last season’s finale at Phoenix’s US Airways Center with a fractured right elbow, essentially ruining a 61-victory campaign, expect coach Gregg Popovich to play the next two games safe.

Tim Duncan scored 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting Monday, took the fourth quarter off, then reminded everyone what happened last season, when a No. 1 seed turned into a first-round ouster against Memphis.

“It doesn’t mean anything,” Duncan said. “It’s great to have that home-court advantage and be in that situation, but as we showed last year, someone can sneak up and take you out.”

Now locked into the top slot, the Spurs will face either Phoenix or Utah in the first round.

The Spurs do have one bauble left for which to play. At 48-16, they are tied with Chicago for the NBA’s best overall record — and home-court advantage during a potential Finals matchup — and must keep winning to keep pace.

Faced with a nearly identical scenario last season, Popovich showed little interest in taxing his players to outdo the Bulls.

“Everybody wants to go into the playoffs healthy, and with energy and rhythm,” Popovich said. “Hopefully, that’s the position we’re in.”

The Spurs put themselves there with a stunningly brutal winning streak, which cresendoed Monday when they did to the Blazers what they had done to the Lakers, Grizzlies and others.

The final marked a 75-point turnaround from the Spurs’ previous meeting with the Blazers, a 137-97 loss in Portland on Feb. 21 in which Duncan, Ginobili, Tony Parker and Tiago Splitter did not play.

The short-handed, playing-out-the-string Blazers — led by interim coach Kaleb Canales, a Laredo native — provided no such resistance Monday. Sparked by a season-high 34 assists, the Spurs reached 100 points against Portland for the first time since Dec. 2, 2007, breaking a streak of 14 games below the century mark.

“We want to always come out with a lot more energy than the other team and get a jump,” said Green, who scored 15 points during an opening half the Spurs dominated 63-41. “Our philosophy is to get in the first punch.”

By the end of the third, the Spurs led 91-65. The lone concern then — as it will be until Game 1 of the playoffs — was making it to the charter plane in one piece.

After Portland’s Hasheem Thabeet took out Boris Diaw and James Anderson on successive plays in the third quarter, Popovich rose to his feet to admonish official Mike Callahan.

“Are you watching that guy?” Popovich bellowed.

The Spurs did not quite escape unscathed. Later, reserve guard Gary Neal ran a little too hard into a pick set by former Spurs center Kurt Thomas and left with a shoulder stinger.

Based on the injury report bestowed on them the last time they collected a No. 1 seed, the Spurs will take a shoulder stinger and an eyeball poke, and count themselves lucky.

jmcdonald@express-news.net
Twitter: @JMcDonald_SAEN

Does regular-season success matter?
The Spurs will finish with the best record in the Western Conference. The team now has accomplished this feat seven times in its history.

Spurs put on show again for Lakers

By Jeff McDonald

His Spurs teammates joke stone-faced rookie forward Kawhi Leonard hasn’t changed his facial expression since the day he was drafted.

Five months into Leonard’s Spurs career, coach Gregg Popovich is still wondering what his voice sounds like.

“Far as I know,” Popovich said, “he hasn’t spoken.”

Leonard was equally Sphinx-like Friday at the ATT Center, before the Spurs dropped a 121-97 anvil on the Los Angeles Lakers, even when offered the most daunting assignment of his young career.

Kobe Bryant was back in the lineup for the Lakers. And Leonard would be the first to guard him.

With some assistance, Leonard held his own against the NBA’s leading scorer. The Spurs’ Big Three did the rest, erupting for the kind of all-around performance that will come in handy when the playoffs begin next weekend.

Tim Duncan had 21 points and eight rebounds, Tony Parker had 20 points and 10 assists and Manu Ginobili contributed 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds.

Duncan added three steals, three assists and two blocks for the Western Conference-leading Spurs, who were ahead by 18 heading into the fourth quarter.

The victory was the Spurs’ sixth in a row since losing to the Lakers 99-84 at home April 11. It had much more in common with the Spurs’ trip to Staples Center on Tuesday, when they ran the Lakers (40-24) off their own floor in a 112-91 victory.

That was the Lakers’ most lopsided loss of the season. Until Friday.

“Especially last game, we wanted to come out and put forth a better effort than the first game (on April 11),” Duncan said. “We did that (in L.A.), and thought we could carry it over.”

Unlike last season, when the Spurs lost eight of their last 12, they are steaming toward the playoffs on a roll. After Friday’s ? triumph, the Spurs (46-16) have won nine of their last 11, 18 of their last 21 and 34 of their last 41.

“It beats the alternative,” said Popovich, whose team was won four straight games by at least 21 points.

“Everybody wants to be in a rhythm now. It’s too late in the season to go into a slump and lose three out of five, something like that. To be winning down the stretch, nobody would trade that.”

Bryant sat out the previous two meetings with the Spurs, and seven straight games overall, with a sore shin.

He returned Friday to find himself defended by a rookie from San Diego State who was in kindergarten when Bryant made his NBA debut.

Popovich handed Leonard the pass-fail assignment purposefully.

“He’s learning a lot about all these guys he’s watched on TV,” Popovich said of Leonard. “It’s been a good experience for him, and seeing Kobe is good for him because he’ll learn a lot. Kobe can show him a few things.”

The 20-year-old Leonard, who grew up an hour outside of Los Angeles, eagerly accepted the mission.

“You just try to stay in front of him, make him take tough shots and hope he misses,” Leonard said.

Bryant gave Leonard his first lesson on the Lakers’ first possession, beating him backdoor for a layup and drawing a foul.

But as the night wore on Leonard — spelled occasionally on Kobe duty by Ginobili and Stephen Jackson — helped keep Bryant from going nuclear. Bryant finished his comeback with 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting but did most of his damage after the game was out of reach.

By game’s end, the Spurs had scored the kind of victory that proved their Tuesday visit to Los Angeles was no fluke.

When it was all over, and the Spurs had emptied the bench against Bryant’s Lakers, Leonard reacted as he had all season.

His night’s work complete, Leonard turned abruptly at the final horn, heading down the tunnel toward the locker room, tossing his wrist band into the crowd along the way.

He did not once crack a smile.

jmcdonald@express-news.net
Twitter:?@JMcDonald_SAEN

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Spurs 121, Lakers 97: April 20, 2012

Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) shoots over Los Angeles Lakers’ Andrew Bynum (17) in the first half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Tony Parker (09) scores against Los Angeles Lakers’ Steve Blake (05) in the first half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) gets a layup against Los Angeles Lakers’ Ramon Sessions (07) in the first half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Tiago Splitter (22) fights for a rebound against Los Angeles Lakers’ Andrew Bynum (17) in the first half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Danny Green (04) fouls Los Angeles Lakers’ Andrew Bynum (17) in the first half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) reaches to attempt a steal against Los Angeles Lakers’ Ramon Sessions (07) in the first half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant (24) gestures after getting fouled in the first half against the Spurs at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) gets a shot off against Los Angeles Lakers’s Matt Barnes (09) and Steve Blake (05) in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Spurs defeated the Lakers, 121-97. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Danny Green (04) drives past Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant (24) in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Spurs defeated the Lakers, 121-97. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Stephen Jackson (left) and Matt Bonner (right) apply pressure against Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant (24) in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Spurs defeated the Lakers, 121-97. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant (24) take a breather during the game against the Spurs in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Spurs defeated the Lakers, 121-97. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Boris Diaw (33) goes up for a shot under the basket against Los Angeles Lakers’ Pau Gasol (16) in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Spurs defeated the Lakers, 121-97. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Stephen Jackson (03) makes a pass against Los Angeles Lakers’ Josh McRoberts (06) in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Spurs defeated the Lakers, 121-97. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Stephen Jackson (03) defends against Los Angeles Lakers’ Metta World Peace (15) in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Spurs defeated the Lakers, 121-97. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Tim Duncan (left) provides support to teammate Stephen Jackson (03) during their game against the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Spurs defeated the Lakers, 121-97. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Tony Parker (09) scores against Los Angeles Lakers’ Steve Blake (05) in the first half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) dunks against Los Angeles Lakers’ Troy Murphy (14) in the first half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) shoots over Los Angeles Lakers’ Andrew Bynum (17) in the first half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) tightly guards against Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant (24) in the first half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich debates a call with a game official during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) ponders a call against him during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Duncan sits as balanced effort stalls Kings

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Spurs 127, Kings 102: April 18, 2012

San Antonio Spurs forward Manu Ginobili, center, of Argentina, drives to the basket between Sacramento Kings’ Tyreke Evans, left, and Chuck Hayes during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, April 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs center Boris Diaw, right, of France, hits the ball out of the hand of Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, April 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs guard Gary Neal, left, goes to the basket against Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, April 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker, front left, goes to the basket against Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, April 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) (AP)

San Antonio spurs center Tiago Splitter, left, of Brazil, is fouled by Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, April 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) (AP)

Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins, left, pulls a rebound away from San Antonio spurs center Tiago Splitter, of Brazil during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, April 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) (AP)

Sacramento Kings forward Jason Thompson, left, goes for the ball after San Antonio Spurs forward Manu Ginobili, right, of Argentina, was fouled by Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (not shown) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, April 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker, left, defends against Sacramento Kings guard Isaiah Thomas during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, April 18, 2012. The Spurs won 127-102.(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ DeJuan Blair, left, and Tim Duncan smile while watching the closing minutes of their 127-102 win over the Sacramento Kings in a NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, April 18, 2012. Duncan did not suit up for the game.(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) (AP)

Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins, right, does a reverse layup past San Antonio Spurs center Boris Diaw, of France, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, April 18, 2012. The Spurs won 127-102.(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs forward Manu Ginobili, of Argentina checks for blood after colliding with Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, April 18, 2012. The Spurs won 127-102.(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) (AP)

By Jeff McDonald

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Tim Duncan showed up at Power Balance Pavilion on Wednesday night wearing a sport coat, a predictable sartorial choice for the Spurs’ almost-36-year-old power forward with his team playing the final game of a back-to-back-to-back.

Manu Ginobili, the Spurs’ second-oldest player, was a different story.

For the third time in as many nights, Ginobili slipped on his black No. 20 jersey and contributed to a lopsided Spurs victory, this one a 127-102 affair at the expense of the Sacramento Kings.

“I need to play,” Ginobili said after his 17-minute stint. “I need to be on the court. I’m starting to feel good. I need to keep it going.”

The same could be said of the team that signs Ginobili’s paychecks.

Behind a 69-point second half, the Spurs — who in March became one of only six NBA teams to sweep a back-to-back-to-back in this lockout-? shortened season — became the only club to accomplish that twice.

Gary Neal and Tiago Splitter each contributed 17 points off the bench for the Spurs (45-16), who had seven players — including four reserves — in double figures.

All three of the Spurs’ victories on the trip came by at least 21 points.

“It’s difficult,” Splitter said. “It takes a great effort from everybody. But when you win, it’s always fun.”

The Spurs remained in the driver’s seat for first place in the Western Conference, a game in the loss column up on Oklahoma City.

“We’re going to play for it,” Tony Parker said. “But at the same time, the most important thing for Pop and for us is to be fresh when the playoffs start.”

That was the reason behind sitting Duncan for the fifth time this season. With him out, coach Gregg Popovich started a frontcourt of DeJuan Blair and Boris Diaw.

The 34-year-old Ginobili, having totaled 39 minutes in the first two games of the trip, needed minutes.

“In our first game of this trip, Manu played 14 minutes,” Popovich said. “He basically got on the treadmill. He didn’t really do anything. Last night, he played 25 minutes. That’s not very much when a guy has missed 30 games and he’s trying to get in shape.”

If Ginobili’s first game on the trip was akin to light calisthenics, Wednesday’s workout — good for 13 points and five assists — was an MMA bout. A collision with Tyreke Evans opened a small cut inside his right ear.

Ginobili didn’t return to the game after that, though the scrape did not require stitches.

“I’m trying to mix it up,” Ginobili said of his injury laundry list. “Hand, ab, ear. Keep it entertaining.”

For those who recall Ginobili’s fractured elbow last season, there was nothing funny about seeing the Argentine guard briefly prostrate.

“We have to have all three of those guys healthy to have a chance,” Popovich said.

That’s in the playoffs. Wednesday in Sacramento, the Spurs’ Big Three needn’t overexert itself.

The Spurs led 58-57 after a first half Popovich treated as a preseason game — Duncan out, Parker playing 12 minutes, Ginobili logging nine.

In the third quarter, Kawhi Leonard helped them pull away from the Kings, scoring nine of his 13 points in the frame. When Danny Green dropped in a corner 3-pointer with 7:33 left in the third, the Spurs had a 73-63 lead and later pushed it as high as 27.

“To come in without our best player and win by 20 says a lot about this team,” forward Stephen Jackson said. “We’ve got a lot of guys who can get the job done, and I’m happy to be a part of it.”

jmcdonald@express-news.net
Twitter: @JMcDonald_SAEN