DeJuan Blair | SAN ANTONIO SPURS TICKETS

Spurs rookie gets trial by Durant’s fire

By Jeff McDonald
jmcdonald@express-news.net

OKLAHOMA CITY — During a timeout in the second half Sunday, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich turned to his rookie small forward and uttered words that might have made a lesser man gulp.

“I told him, ‘You’re now going to guard the leading scorer in the league,’” Popovich said. “ ‘And you’re not coming out of the game.’ ”

Offered the assignment of defending Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant, with no help and no quarter, Kawhi Leonard did not blink. For a 20-year-old learning the NBA on the fly, that was success enough.

Durant, the NBA’s two-time defending scoring champion, finished with 21 points in 28 minutes of a 108-96 Thunder romp, but Leonard at least made the matchup moderately interesting. Durant made five of his nine shots, and did the bulk of his damage from the foul line, where he was 10 for 10.

“I just tried to take it as a challenge,” said Leonard, who at this time last year was defending players in the Mountain West Conference. “You know he’s going to get his points. You just hope to make it tough on him.”

With the game already out of hand, there was little risk in allowing Leonard a trial by fire.

“We wanted him to get experience and see what it was like,” Popovich said.

Leonard didn’t win the battle with Durant, but neither did he give in.

His finest moment came during a first-half stint against Durant, when he forced his Oklahoma City adversary into a trap and a turnover.

Durant had his moments in the matchup as well. One came late in the third quarter, when he buried a 20-footer in Leonard’s face.

“He did a good job,” Popovich said of Leonard. “It didn’t mean Kevin didn’t score, but it was fun to watch.”

WOOF, WOOF: Spurs center DeJuan Blair and his Oklahoma City counterpart, Kendrick Perkins, were issued technical fouls after a dust-up in the second quarter.

“He was just barking, making something out of nothing,” Blair said. “So I barked back.”

For Perkins, whose hot-headedness has become the stuff of NBA legend, it was his third technical already in the young season. It was Blair’s first.

Since each technical comes with an automatic $2,000 fine, Blair said he planned to appeal his foul.

KNEED REST: Blair and point guard Tony Parker left the game in the second half after each taking a knee to the back of the leg.

Both were sore and bruised but could have played had the game still been in reach. Barring a setback, both said they would be ready for Tuesday’s game at Milwaukee.

SEEING DOUBLE: Afforded a season-high 34 minutes, six seconds of playing time, Leonard turned in the first double-double of his career with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Without the benefit of a normal summer indoctrination or full training camp, Leonard says he is becoming more comfortable with the Spurs’ system by the day.

“Every game is a learning experience for me,” Leonard said. “I’m just trying to listen to what the coaches tell me and learn from each game.”

Kings put blemish on Spurs’ home record

By Jeff McDonald

For the second game in a row, the Spurs found themselves needing a must-have basket late in the fourth quarter, and for the second game in a row, coach Gregg Popovich called timeout to set something up.

For the second game in a row, Popovich put the ball in Danny Green’s hands and, for the second game in a row, asked him to be Manu Ginobili and create a play with Tim Duncan.

Unlike in Orlando, where Green found Duncan for the tying layup, this time Green lofted a floater over the Sacramento defense.

When the ball fell short of everything Friday, sealing an 88-86 loss to the Kings that was the Spurs’ first at the ATT Center this season, it felt like the opposite of déjà vu.

“Pop trusted me again,” Green said. “I hope I get another chance another time.”

Right up until the final horn, it felt as if the Spurs had never left Orlando. Against the Magic on Wednesday, they didn’t shoot well and turned the ball over at inopportune times, but still emerged with their first road win, 85-83 in overtime.

Against the Kings, the Spurs didn’t shoot well, turned the ball over at inopportune times and lost.

Tyreke Evans scored 23 points — including the game-winning jumper with 47.2 seconds to go — to go with 11 rebounds and seven assists as the Kings snapped a 12-game losing streak to the Spurs.

Sacramento had lost nine in a row at the ATT Center, a streak dating to April 6, 2006.

“It’s probably the biggest win of the year for us,” said Kings guard John Salmons, who made two of his three field goals in the final 2:12.

Tony Parker scored 24 points and Duncan added a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double despite playing only 5.5 seconds of the fourth quarter for the Spurs, who started 9-0 at home before Friday’s loss.

Just as the Spurs knew they weren’t going to go 0-33 on the road, even after an 0-5 start, they also knew they were unlikely to go 33-0 at home.

“It was just one of those ugly games we couldn’t pull out,” guard Gary Neal said. “Orlando was the same way. We just happened to pull that one out.”

The Spurs (10-6) opened the game as if still stuck in Orlando, missing 11 of 19 shots and giving away four turnovers and six offensive rebounds in the first quarter.

Midway through the second quarter, Sacramento pushed its lead to 15.

The Kings (6-10) still led 73-67 heading into the fourth. The Spurs did not take their first lead until Tiago Splitter spun past DeMarcus Cousins for the last of his 10 points to make it 74-73 with 9:52 left.

“We dug ourselves a hole, not rebounding well, not getting back on ‘D,’?” said Popovich, whose team looks for road win No. 2 tonight in Houston.

The Spurs followed a 2-for-17 3-point effort in Orlando by starting 2 for 19 Friday, finally breaking through with a 3-for-7 fourth quarter.

The misses weren’t limited to beyond the arc. Green and Neal combined to shoot 7 of 23. Parker was 8 of 18. Richard Jefferson went 2 for 8.

“We couldn’t hit a shot,” said Parker, whose team endured its worst shooting night at home this season (37.8 percent). “It’s tough to win shooting 38 percent.”

When Matt Bonner hit his lone 3-pointer of the game and Parker followed with his first three of the season, the Spurs had an 82-78 lead with 4:57 to go.

Then, momentum swung again. Salmons hit back-to-back jumpers to tie the game with 1:23 to go. Evans followed with the go-ahead basket.

The Kings managed more points in those crucial 85 seconds than they’d scored in the previous 8:48.

That set the stage for Green’s shot at some Orlando déjà vu. Except with just 5.5 seconds to complete the play, Green wasn’t sure he could shuttle the ball to Duncan.

“My last couple shots had been high and long, so I tried to shoot it high and soft,” Green said. “I just didn’t get a good grip.”

Two nights after an ugly first road win, the Spurs had returned for an ugly first home loss.

jmcdonald@express-news.net

– Photos by Tom Reel/Express-News

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Kings 88, Spurs 86: Jan. 20, 2012

Tony Parker emphasizes contact from Jimmer Fredette in the first half as the Spurs play Sacramento at the ATT Center in San Antonio on January 20, 2012 Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News (TOM REEL / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Tim Duncan leans back to get a shot off against J.J. Hickson in the first half as the Spurs play Sacramento at the ATT Center in San Antonio on January 20, 2012 Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News (TOM REEL / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

SPORTS Tiago Splitter reverses under the hoop to score against DeMarcus Cousins as the Spurs play Sacramento at the ATT Center in San Antonio on January 20, 2012 Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News (TOM REEL / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

DeJuan Blair goes to the board with a shot against Jason Thompson as the Spurs lose to Sacramento 88-86 at the ATT Center in San Antonio on January 20, 2012 Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News (TOM REEL / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Gary Neal turns the corner on J.J. Hickson as the Spurs play Sacramento at the ATT Center in San Antonio on January 20, 2012 Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News (TOM REEL / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Tiago Splitter gets fouled by DeMarcus Cousins in the second half as the Spurs play Sacramento at the ATT Center in San Antonio on January 20, 2012 Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News (TOM REEL / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Richard Jefferson pumps a three pointer as the Spurs play Sacramento at the ATT Center in San Antonio on January 20, 2012 Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News (TOM REEL / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Matt Bonner hooks in a shot against DeMarcus Cousins as the Spurs play Sacramento at the ATT Center in San Antonio on January 20, 2012 Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News (TOM REEL / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Tony Parker is pressured under the basket by Tyreke Evans as the Spurs play Sacramento at the ATT Center in San Antonio on January 20, 2012 Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News (TOM REEL / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Tony Parker cradles the ball in the lane against J.J. Hickson as the Spurs play Sacramento at the ATT Center in San Antonio on January 20, 2012 Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News (TOM REEL / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

SPORTS Tim Duncan shoots around Jason Thompson in the first half as the Spurs play Sacramento at the ATT Center in San Antonio on January 20, 2012 Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News (TOM REEL / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

ony Parker dishes away after driving into the lane against Tyreke Evans as the Spurs play Sacramento at the ATT Center in San Antonio on January 20, 2012 Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News (TOM REEL / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

SPORTS Greg Popovich argues a call with the referee as the Spurs play Sacramento at the ATT Center in San Antonio on January 20, 2012 Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News (TOM REEL / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Tim Duncan pulls down a defensive rebound as the Spurs play Sacramento at the ATT Center in San Antonio on January 20, 2012 Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News (TOM REEL / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Danny Green gets in the way of Tyreke Evans as the Spurs play Sacramento at the ATT Center in San Antonio on January 20, 2012 Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News (TOM REEL / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Kings guard John Salmons is pressured by Tiago splitter and Richard Jefferson as the Spurs play Sacramento at the ATT Center in San Antonio on January 20, 2012 Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News (TOM REEL / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Tony Parker instructs Danny Green as they walk back on the court as the Spurs play Sacramento at the ATT Center in San Antonio on January 20, 2012 Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News (TOM REEL / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Richard Jefferson clears a defensive rebound as the Spurs play Sacramento at the ATT Center in San Antonio on January 20, 2012 Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News (TOM REEL / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Tim Duncan pulls down a defensive rebound as the Spurs play Sacramento at the ATT Center in San Antonio on January 20, 2012 Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News (TOM REEL / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Danny Green gets in the way of Tyreke Evans as the Spurs play Sacramento at the ATT Center in San Antonio on January 20, 2012 Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News (TOM REEL / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Tony Parker instruct Danny Green as they walk back on the court as the Spurs play Sacramento at the ATT Center in San Antonio on January 20, 2012 Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News (TOM REEL / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Richard Jefferson clears a defensive rebound as the Spurs play Sacramento at the ATT Center in San Antonio on January 20, 2012 Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News (TOM REEL / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

The Silver Dancers perform as the Spurs play Sacramento at the ATT Center in San Antonio on January 20, 2012 Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News (TOM REEL / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

DeJuan Blair comes out to guard Tyreke Evans as the Spurs play Sacramento at the ATT Center in San Antonio on January 20, 2012 Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News (TOM REEL / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Kawhi Leonard shoots free throws in the first half as the Spurs play Sacramento at the ATT Center in San Antonio on January 20, 2012 Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News (TOM REEL / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Game rewind: TP’s fourth-quarter spurt ices victory

Game analysis: The Spurs’ bench came through with a pivotal performance to bail them out after early struggles. And after struggling to contain the athletic Trail Blazers in the first quarter, the Spurs limited Portland to 33.9 percent shooting during the rest of the game.

Where the game was won: After Nicolas Batum gave Portland a 67-65 lead 10 seconds into the fourth quarter, the Spurs hit Portland for 14 straight points and an 18-2 spurt that put the game away. The run was keyed by Kawhi Leonard who provided a 3-pointer and had a steal and a layup that was set up by DeJuan Blair’s rebound and long outlet pass. By the time the run ended, the Spurs had an 83-69 lead that dropped below digits only once during the rest of the game.

And don’t forget about this, either: Raymond Felton pulled Portland within 85-76 with 4:51 left on a jumper after earlier hitting a 3-pointer on the previous possession. From there, Parker scored San Antonio’s next 10 points to ice the victory.

Player of the game I: Parker finished with 20 points and nine assists, mainly because of a strong fourth quarter where he scored 12 points in barely five minutes of game action.

Player of the game II: Tiago Splitter had one of his best career games, scoring 14 points on 5-for-5 field goal shooting, four rebounds and two assists and two blocked shots. His strong effort typified the lift the Spurs’ bench provided to the victory.

Player of the game III: The Spurs had no early answer for LaMarcus Aldridge, who started quickly with 14 points in the first quarter. The Spurs were aided as the game progressed by better defense and Aldridge’s foul trouble, which limited him to 29 points and seven rebounds. It could have been much worse.

Most unsung: Danny Green’s strong night was of the Spurs’ strong bench play. Green scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds but more impressive was his plus-29 plus/minus score which was the best of the season for a Spurs player.

Did you notice: The Spurs committed 10 turnovers in the first quarter as Portland turned the mistakes into 15 fast break points on 7-for-7 shooting . The Spurs did a better job protecting the basketball during the rest of the game and Portland couldn’t get its running game going nearly as effectively.

Did you notice II: Spurs rookie forward Malcolm Thomas got his first NBA action during garbage time in the fourth quarter. Thomas grabbed an offensive rebound in two minutes of game action.

Stat of the game: The Spurs’ bench outscored their Portland counterparts, 45-17. The edge was 27-2 in the first half.

Stat of the game II: Parker produced 20 points and nine assists. Before Manu Ginobili’s injury, Parker was averaging 13.8 points and 6.5 assists per game. In the games since Ginobili was placed on the injured list, Parker is averaging 17.9 points and 8.0 assists. And in his last three games, he’s averaging 23.3 points per game with three consecutive 20-point games for the first time since the final three games of the playoffs against Memphis last season.

Stat of the game III: With Marcus Camby out and Aldridge battling foul trouble, the Spurs were able to outrebound Portland, 50-36. The 14-board difference was only the third time since 1986 that the Spurs have outrebounded Portland by 14 rebounds or more. It was San Antonio’s largest rebounding margin against the Trail Blazers since they had a 27-rebound margin in a 106-75 blowout on Jan. 4, 2006.

Weird stat of the game: Maybe it was a weird Friday the 13th mojo at work. Or maybe Camby might be developing triskaidekaphobia, which is the fear of the number 13. Camby played 13 minutes, 13 seconds before his ankle injury Friday that idled him for the rest of the game.

Quote of the game: “We made easy buckets and we had great defense. If we play like this every night, it’s going to be tough to beat the Spurs,” Splitter, on the lift provided by the Spurs’ bench.

How the schedule stacks up: The Spurs will have one more game during their brief homestand, Phoenix on Sunday night before a back-to-back road trip with games at Miami on Tuesday and Orlando on Wednesday. The Trail Blazers began a six-game road trip that will continue with a back-to-back Saturday in Houston and upcoming games Monday at New Orleans and Wednesday at Atlanta.

Injuries: Ginobili missed his seventh game after undergoing surgery for a fractured fifth left metacarpal. Ford missed his second game with a torn left hamstring sustained Tuesday night in Milwaukee. Portland center Greg Oden remains out with a left knee injury. And Camby was idled late in the second quarter with a left ankle sprain and did not return after failing to score and grabbing three rebounds.