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Spurs’ prodigious depth denies Kings

By Jeff McDonald

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – An hour before tipoff at Power Balance Pavilion on Wednesday, Spurs center Tiago Splitter went through a series of exercises with team strength coach Matt Herring.

The object was to test Splitter’s balky back, which had kept him out of four consecutive games. After a workout that was heavy on sweat but not on tears, Splitter pronounced himself good to go.

“Everything’s in place,” Splitter said. “I feel good now.”

The same might be said of the team that signs his paychecks.

Playing with a full deck for the first time in 11 days, the Spurs used their prodigious depth to outlast Sacramento, 117-112, extending the NBA’s longest active winning streak to six.

Having endured their most grueling stretch of the lockout-sardined season, adding five wins to the ledger in six nights, the Spurs now have a chance to catch their breath.

Wednesday, the Spurs’ youngest set of legs helped get them over the top.

Kawhi Leonard, a 20-year-old rookie small forward apparently too young to tire, had 19 points and nine rebounds, and supplied enough energy to power the whole of northern California.

“I just try to do what I can to contribute and bring energy,” Leonard said.

It was also another big night for the Spurs’ venerable Big Three, with Manu Ginobili scoring 20 points, Tim Duncan adding 18 points and eight rebounds and Tony Parker providing a 10-point, 10-assist double-double.

Heading into the five-game gauntlet, the Spurs (35-14) couldn’t have envisioned a sweep. Overall, the Spurs have won nine of their last 10, and 13 of their last 15 on the road.

“This is as deep as I’ve ever had a team here,” said Duncan, in his 15^th season, “and we’re using everybody possible.

Wednesday, the Spurs got key first-half contributions from players who, either by age or inactivity, were less affected by the compressed schedule.

Leonard was a sparkplug, offering active minutes on both ends. Splitter had seven points and six rebounds in the first half. Even backup point guard Patrick Mills, playing his second game since joining the team, got to the act with seven points in six minutes.

In the first quarter, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich deployed 11 players. Nine of them scored.

“I don’t think we’d be hanging in like are now last year, with this kind of schedule,” Popovich said. “We didn’t have this kind of depth.”

Behind 28 points from Isaiah Thomas and 25 from DeMarcus Cousins, the Kings (17-33) hung around, though never led. Each time Sacramento would sneak within striking distance, however, the Spurs had an answer.

After a Thomas 3-pointer brought Sacramento within one again midway through the fourth, Gary Neal found Parker for a layup. That sparked a 15-6 run that put the Spurs ahead by 10 with 2:18 to go.

“Down the stretch in the fourth quarter, our experience probably showed,” Popovich said.

For Popovich, the quest over the season’s jam-packed final month is to somehow balance the need to whip his team into playoff shape with the need to keep older players fresh.

“There’s no formula for it,” Popovich said. “You just do the best you can.”

But first for the Spurs, some downtime. And perhaps a nap.

They play just once in the next four nights, Saturday at home against Indiana. Even so, Popovich anticipates several short-handed nights between now and the postseason.

“You just roll with whoever is available,” Popovich said. “There’s no other choice.”

Wednesday night in Sacramento, for the first time in a while, that meant everyone.

jmcdonald@express-news.net

Twitter: @JMcDonald_SAEN

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Spurs 117, Kings 112: March 28, 2012

San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker, left, and Kawhi Leonard center, question official Mike Callahan about a foul call during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, March 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) (AP)

Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins, center, tries to pull down a rebound against San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, March 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs forward Manu Ginobili, of Argentina, left, and Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans scramble for the ball during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, March 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ DeJuan Blair, left, goes to the basket against Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, March 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs forward Manu Ginobili, of Argentina, left, leans in for the layup past Sacramento Kings’ Donte Greene, center, and Chuck Hayes during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, March 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) (AP)

Sacramento Kings guard Marcus Thornton, left, is fouled by San Antonio Spurs guard Danny Green during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, March 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker, left, goes to the basket against Sacramento Kings forward Jason Thompson during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, March 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan, right, leans around Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins to make a pass during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, March 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) (AP)

Game rewind: Jackson follows well-traveled road for his S.A. return

Before the game, newest Spurs acquisition Stephen Jackson said he’s been enjoying catching up with his favorite San Antonio restaurants and landmarks.

Jackson said that the city hasn’t changed much since he left in 2003, only a few weeks after the Spurs claimed their second NBA championship with the mercurial forward helping to shoot them to the title.

“I know my around,” Jackson said. “I’ve been to Papadeaux’s a couple of times. I’ve been to the Quarry and went to the movies. There’s not too much that’s different. The highways have changed a little bit, but everything is still the same.”

Once he got into the lineup, his basketball production followed that pattern, too.

Jackson started hot by hitting his first two shots that helped stake San Antonio’s early run to an impressive 116-100 victory over Minnesota.

It was almost like he had never left. Jackson hit 3 of 4 3-pointers en route to 16 points. It was the same kind of feathery touch he showed in the fourth quarter of Game 6 of the Spurs’ title-clinching victory in 2003 in his last home game as a Spur.

“We won and that’s what I’m all about,” Jackson said about his Wednesday night effort. “I’m glad to be here on a team that wins. It feels good to finally get back on the court and get this first home game out of the way.”

In the nine years since he left, Jackson has turned into a more mature veteran who will turn 34 next month. And it appears he’s quickly adapted to the role that Gregg Popovich envisioned for him when he was acquired for Richard Jefferson, a conditional 2012 first-round draft pick and the rights to T.J. Ford last week.

“I did not have too many jitters because I’ve been doing this for a long time,” Jackson said. “To be able to get out there and win this game is great.”

After three days off, the Spurs showed little rustiness as they started with an impressive victory that kicks off their most arduous stretch of the season to date.

Here’s how they did it.

The game, simply stated: After being pounded inside by the Timberwolves in two previous games, the Spurs were more determined inside and dominated the game in the paint as they cruised to a comfortable victory that was marred by Tony Parker’s hamstring injury.

Where the game was won: Playing without widebody Nikola Pekovic inside, the Spurs exploited his absence quickly. They grabbed five rebounds before Minnesota got one and jumped to a quick 4-0 lead on a Tim Duncan dunk and a fastbreak alley-0op basket from Duncan to Danny Green to take control.

Putting it away: The Spurs erupted on a 14-3 surge to finish the first quarter that coincided with Jackson’s entry into the game. Jackson punctuated the run with a fastbreak dunk on a feed from Manu Ginobili and a 3-pointer on another pass from Ginobili that finished the quarter.

The finisher: After Love’s layup had pulled Minnesota within 78–65 with 3:11 left in the third quarter, the Spurs hit the Timberwolves with a 15-6 surge capped by Tiago Splitter’s dunk on a pass from Ginobili that boosted them to a 91-69 lead with 54.3 seconds left that was their biggest lead in the game to that point.

Player of the game I: Duncan had another vintage effort with game-high totals of 21 points, 15 rebounds and four assists. More remarkably, he posted his numbers in only 24:19 and didn’t play after he went out with 2:15 left in the third quarter.

Player of the game II: Jackson delivered strong shooting with three of the Spurs’ seven 3-pointers. He finished with 16 points, three rebounds and two steals in 21:58.

Player of the game III: Kawhi Leonard hooked up with Love on several occasions defensively and played well. He also provided 16 points and nine rebounds in the kind of performance that might earn him a permanent starting position — sooner rather than later.

Most unsung: With Tony Parker going down with a hamstring injury with 8:03 left in the second quarter, Gary Neal and Ginobili were thrust into the point guard role. Neal overcame a slow start to finish with 16 points, four steals and three assists. Ginobili provided nine points, eight assists and four rebounds.

Attendance: Bruce Bowen’s jersey retirement night was bound to be one of the most anticipated nights of the regular season. So it wasn’t a surprise that the Spurs attracted another sellout crowd of 18,581 at the ATT Center. It was the Spurs’ 16th capacity crowd in 22 home games this season, including 13 of their last 15 games and ninth in a row. Their last non-capacity game came Feb. 2 against New Orleans. They are averaging 18,305, a capacity rate of 98.5 percent for the season.

Did you notice I: Bruce Bowen and his sons were sitting in the courtside seats. But early in the first quarter, the Bowen boys got a little overexcited and spilled one of their drinks. It made their dad take care of some family business before his jersey was hoisted to the rafters of the ATT Center.

Did you notice II: Popovich appeared to have some well-placed verbal salvos for DeJuan Blair, who had two late turnovers including an almost comical pass that appeared intended for the fans in the fifth row sitting behind the Spurs’ basket. Whatever Popovich said appeared to get the point across, as well as prompt some snickers from Duncan and Splitter along the San Antonio bench.

Stat of the game I: After being outrebounded by an average of 10 in two previous losses to Minnesota, the Spurs tallied a 56-41 rebounding advantage Wednesday night . Their total Wednesday night was a season high.

Stat of the game II: The Spurs claimed their fourth victory in their last five games.

Stat of the game III: Minnesota’s Kevin Love notched 17 points and 12 rebounds to record his league-leading 40th double-double.

Stat of the game IV: The Spurs grabbed six offensive rebounds before Minnesota grabbed its first offensive carom and had a 17-9 edge on offensive rebounds in the game.

Stat of the game V: After struggling recently from the foul line, the Spurs hit 76 percent from the line. Coming into Wednesday’s game, the Spurs had shot 62.5 percent from the line or less in four of five games and 66.7 percent or less in six of their last nine games.

Stat of the game VI: Jackson hit five of his first six shots before hitting on only one of his last three over the final 20 minutes of the game.

Stat of the game VII: Minnesota has not won in San Antonio in 15 games, a streak dating back to Jan. 14, 2004.

Weird stat of the night: Duncan produced 21 points and 15 rebounds in 24:19. It marked only the second time in his career he has produced at least 20 points and 15 rebounds in less than 25 minutes. The only other time in his career came on Feb. 26, 2004, when he notched 22 points and 17 rebounds in 25 minutes against Dallas.

Weird stat of the night II: Before leaving with his hamstring injury, Parker played only 10:29. It marked only the sixth time in his career he played in 11 minutes in a game. It was his lowest playing time since notching 11 minutes against Portland on Nov. 6, 2009.

Weird stat of the night III: James Anderson scored seven points in 16:49. It was his biggest scoring effort since he scored 11 points in 34:45 in the blowout loss at Portland on Feb. 21.

Weird stat of the night IV: The Spurs well on their way to breaking their season mark for points (122) and assists (31) midway through the fourth quarter. But they were shut out over the final 3:26 and didn’t have an assist over the final 4:53, finishing with 116 points and 29 assists.

Not a good sign: Other than the obvious injury to Parker, Neal struggled shooting in the first half before rebounding after the break. After missing five of his first six shots, Neal rebounded to hit six of his last nine attempts.

Best plus/minus scores: Splitter was plus-14, Duncan was plus-13 and Leonard was plus-12.

Worst plus/minus scores: Eric Dawson was minus-4 and Anderson was minus-2. They were the only Spurs with negative scores.

Quote of the game: “Gary did a great job (at the point ) for a 2-guard. He’s not a 1, but he kind of likes it for some strange reason. So we’re happy he can do what he does at that position,” Popovich on Neal’s extended playing time at point guard with Parker injured.

How the schedule stacks up: After taking Thursday off, the Spurs will have their first back-to-back-to-back games of the season with games Friday against Dallas, Saturday at New Orleans and Sunday against Philadelphia. Minnesota travels to Oklahoma City for a Friday night game, returns home Sunday for Denver before back-to-back road games Tuesday at Memphis and March 28 at Charlotte.

Injuries: Matt Bonner missed his first game of the season with back spasms. Parker left the lineup with 8:05 left in the second quarter with what Popovich described as a mild hamstring strain. Minnesota played without Pekovic, who was back in Minneapolis receiving treatment on his sore ankles. Michael Beasley was limited to 11 minutes and none in the second half when a sprained big toe flared up. Starting point guard Ricky Rubio is out for the season with a torn ACL. And Minnesota coach Rick Adelman sat Darko Milicic for the sixth time in seven days because he thinks he’s out of shape.

Spurs hold on to fend off Hornets

By Jeff McDonald

NEW ORLEANS — Monty Williams’ team was already depleted when Chris Kaman showed up at shootaround Saturday with flu-like symptoms.

When Trevor Ariza also arrived unable to play on a sore ankle, the New Orleans coach was prepared to pull fans out of the stands to fill out the Hornets’ roster.

Saddled with a short bench of his own in the middle of a back-to-back-to-back, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich considered a more radical alternative.

“I thought about calling (George) Gervin,” Popovich joked. “But he was busy.”

The Spurs didn’t quite require the services of a 59-year-old Iceman, but they needed every iota of production from everyone else to sneak by the Hornets 89-86 at New Orleans Arena.

With Manu Ginobili and Tiago Splitter home in San Antonio, and Gary Neal a late scratch with a sprained left foot, the Spurs had to dig deep to fend off the team with the Western Conference’s worst record.

The Hornets were playing hurt too, with five rotation players out, yet still managed to push the Southwest Division-leading Spurs to the brink.

It wasn’t until the final 1:19, when Tim Duncan hit a go-ahead tip-in, Danny Green followed with a jumper and New Orleans’ Marco Bellinelli left a tying 3-pointer short at the horn that the Spurs (32-14) were able to escape with their sixth victory in the past seven games.

“It was not pretty, but we’ll take it,” said Tony Parker, who returned after missing a game and a half with a stiff hamstring. “We didn’t play our best game, but it’s a good win for us.”

Ginobili did not make the trip, with Popovich opting to rest his star guard in the midst of the season’s most grueling stretch. Splitter missed his second game with back spasms.

It was an all-hands-on-deck kind of night, and with 20 games left to be crammed into the next month, there will likely be more of them to come.

The Spurs’ reward for survival? Their third game in three nights, tonight at home against Philadelphia.

DeJuan Blair sparked the Spurs early, scoring 23 points in three quarters before falling victim to the vagaries of Popovich’s rotation. He did not play at all in the fourth.

Parker had his moments, too, scoring six of his 12 points in a 2 1/2–minute span of the third. He also notched 10 assists, seven of which came before he even attempted a shot.

Later, Stephen Jackson scored six straight points — including a driving dunk to start the fourth — to give the Spurs life.

“New Orleans, for most of the game, was more efficient than we were and executed better than we did,” Popovich said. “We had to hang in there and keep plugging. It’s probably the best thing we did.”

For the second time this season, Jarrett Jack torched the Spurs for 27 points, hitting 11 of his first 14 shots before ending 0 for 5.

With Kaman and Ariza joining Emeka Okafor and Eric Gordon on the injured list, and Jason Smith serving a two-game suspension for his Flagrant-2 foul against the Clippers’ Blake Griffin, Jack guided a lineup better suited to the D-League to the cusp of an upset.

As far as Popovich is concerned, New Orleans’ woeful 12-36 record should come with an asterisk.

“I don’t think there’s any staff or players or organization that’s had as difficult of circumstances as them, and they continue to play hard every game,” Popovich said.

The NBA’s top 3-point shooting team, the Spurs went just 2 of 19 from beyond the arc, perhaps a sign of tired legs after an emotional home victory a night earlier against Dallas.

Even when the Spurs seemed to have the game sealed, they made things difficult. After his team made its first 15 foul shots, Green missed a pair with 2.3 seconds left that could have spared the Spurs the drama of having to defend a final possession.

“It was a tough game,” Blair said. “But we need games like this.”

In the end, the Spurs won’t quibble with the details. In a season in which every game seems to come with a built-in excuse to lose, the Spurs will take the wins however they come.

jmcdonald@express-news.net
Twitter: @JMcDonald_SAEN

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Spurs 89, Hornets 86: March 24, 2012

Spurs guard Tony Parker, left, keeps the ball from New Orleans Hornets’ Lance Thomas (42) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Saturday, March 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Bill Haber) (AP)

Spurs center Tim Duncan (21) works his way to the basket against New Orleans Hornets’ Chris Johnson (20) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Saturday, March 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Bill Haber) (AP)

New Orleans Hornets guard Xavier Henry (4) and center Gustavo Ayon (15) defend Spurs forward Boris Diaw (33) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Saturday, March 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Bill Haber) (AP)

New Orleans Hornets coach Monty Wlliams yells to the officials in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Spurs in New Orleans, Saturday, March 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Bill Haber) (AP)

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) watch as an official calls a foul in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Hornets in New Orleans, Saturday, March 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Bill Haber) (AP)

New Orleans Hornets’ Jarrett Jack goes to the basket in front of Spurs center Tim Duncan (21) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Saturday, March 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Bill Haber) (AP)

Spurs center Tim Duncan, right, and Spurs guard Stephen Jackson (3) double team New Orleans Hornets forward Carl Landry (24) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Saturday, March 24, 2012. The Spurs defeated the Hornets 89-86. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)

San Antonio Spurs center Tim Duncan (21) shoots over New Orleans Hornets forward Gustavo Ayon (15) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Saturday, March 24, 2012. The Spurs defeated the Hornets 89-86. (AP Photo/Bill Haber) (AP)

Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) passes around New Orleans Hornets forward Carl Landry (24) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Saturday, March 24, 2012. The Spurs defeated the Hornets 89-86. (AP Photo/Bill Haber) (AP)

Spurs guard Daniel Green (4) and New Orleans Hornets guard Jarrett Jack (2) battle for a loose ball in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Saturday, March 24, 2012. The Spurs defeated the Hornets 89-86. (AP Photo/Bill Haber) (AP)

New Orleans Hornets guard Jarrett Jack (2) holds the ball after turning it over to the Spurs in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Saturday, March 24, 2012. The Spurs defeated the Hornets 89-86. (AP Photo/Bill Haber) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs forward DeJuan Blair (45) loses the ball as he is fouled by the New Orleans Hornets in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Saturday, March 24, 2012. The Spurs defeated the Hornets 89-86. (AP Photo/Bill Haber) (AP)

Spurs center Tim Duncan (21) and Spurs forward Matt Bonner (15) block the shot of New Orleans Hornets forward Al-Farouq Aminu (0) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Saturday, March 24, 2012. The Spurs defeated the Hornets 89-86. (AP Photo/Bill Haber) (AP)

Spurs center Tim Duncan (21) and New Orleans Hornets forward Gustavo Ayon (15) tangle in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Saturday, March 24, 2012. The Spurs defeated the Hornets 89-86. (AP Photo/Bill Haber) (AP)

Spurs center Tim Duncan (21) and New Orleans Hornets forward Gustavo Ayon (15) reach for a loose ball in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Saturday, March 24, 2012. The Spurs defeated the Hornets 89-86. (AP Photo/Bill Haber) (AP)