Gary Neal | SAN ANTONIO SPURS TICKETS

Saturday: Jazz (1-2) at Spurs (2-1)

Time: 7:30 p.m.
TV: FSNSW
Radio: WOAI-AM 1200, KCOR-AM 1350

STARTING LINEUPS

Point guard
Spurs: 9 Tony Parker (6-2, 11th yr)
Jazz: 5 Devin Harris (6-3, 8th yr)
Harris scored 10 but had only 2 assists in season-opening loss to Nuggets.

Shooting guard
Spurs: 20 Manu Ginobili (6-6, 10th yr)
Jazz: 19 Raja Bell (6-5, 12th yr)
A rare matchup this season in which Manu (34) is younger; Bell is 35.

Small forward
Spurs: 24 Richard Jefferson (6-7, 11th yr)
Jazz: 20 Gordon Hayward (6-8, 2nd yr)
After making 6 of first 11 3-pts. of season, Jefferson went 1-5 vs. Rockets.

Power forward
Spurs: 21 Tim Duncan (6-11, 15th yr)
Jazz: 15 Derrick Favors (6-10, 2nd yr)
Duncan played 15:37 in first half in Houston; sat entire second half.

Center
Spurs: 45 DeJuan Blair (6-7, 3rd yr)
Jazz: 25 Al Jefferson (6-10, 8th yr)
Averaging 16.0 PPG, Blair is coming off 2nd 20-or-more game of season.

SPURS RESERVES
25 James Anderson, G, 6-6, 2nd yr
15 Matt Bonner, C/F, 6-10, 8th yr
11 T.J. Ford, G, 6-0, 8th yr
4 Danny Green, G/F, 6-6, 3rd yr
5 Cory Joseph, G, 6-3, 1st yr
2 Kawhi Leonard, F, 6-7, 1st yr
14 Gary Neal, G, 6-4, 2nd yr
22 Tiago Splitter, C, 6-11, 2nd yr

JAZZ RESERVES
10 Alec Burks, G, 6-6, 1st yr
40 Jeremy Evans, F, 6-9, 2nd yr
8 Josh Howard, F, 6-7, 9th yr
0 Enes Kanter, C, 6-11, 1st yr
34 C.J. Miles, G/F, 6-6, 7th yr
24 Paul Millsap, F, 6-8, 6th yr
6 Jamaal Tinsley, G, 6-3, 9th yr
11 Earl Watson, G, 6-1, 11th yr

COACHES
Spurs: Gregg Popovich
Jazz: Tyrone Corbin

INJURIES
Spurs: Gary Neal (appendectomy) is out.
Jazz: None

PROJECTED INACTIVE PLAYERS
Spurs: Gary Neal
Jazz: None

NOTABLE
Spurs swept 2010-11 season series, 3-0. … Tonight’s game is second of a back-to-back set for Jazz, who played at home against 76ers on Friday. … Spurs didn’t practice Friday after their first back-to-back set of season.

— Mike Monroe

Game rewind: No style points, but it’s still a win over Dallas

It might have been ugly only in the eye of the beholder.

The Spurs’ 93-71 victory over Dallas Thursday night showed post-lockout basketball at its very worst.

But even with the offensive challenges for both teams, the Spurs claimed their fifth straight home victory as they endured their first three-games-in-four-night stretch of the season.

Here’s how they did it.

Game analysis: It was an understandable result in a game where the Spurs utilized one of their best 3-point shooting games in team history against one of Dallas’ worst. Throw in 10 Dallas turnovers before San Antonio’s first miscue and a blowout might have been expected.

Where the game was won: The Spurs jumped on Dallas early, scoring on a 3-pointer by Gary Neal on their first possession and never trailing. In the first five minutes, they hit Dallas with a 19-4 run keyed by three 3-pointers and never looked back.

Player of the game I: Matt Bonner went for 17 points, including five 3-pointers in his best shooting game of the season.

Player of the game II: Richard Jefferson was efficient in many areas Thursday night. Not only did he continue his recent scoring binge with 16 points, but he also provided some tough rebounding and even a couple of notable defensive plays.

Player of the game III: Danny Green wasn’t hesistant to look for his shot as he scored eight points in 24 minutes. He again was an active on defense and was Popovich’s first substitute, gaining his trust to play a lot of early minutes.

Most unsung: Gary Neal. Without Manu Ginobili in the lineup, the Spurs needed somebody to step up. Neal did it quickly with three 3-pointers in less than six minutes. The game was effectively over by the time he left the lineup for the first time.

Did you notice: Play was stopped in the third period when referees noticed that a fan was shining a laser light at players on the court. After the perpetrator was found, the game continued.

Stat of the game: The Spurs hit 16 3-pointers and Dallas had one.

Stat of the game II: Before Jason Terry’s 3-pointer late in the third quarter, the Mavericks missed their first 13 3-pointers.

Stat of the game III: For the first time since 2007-08, the Spurs have won their first five home games of the season.

Weird stat of the game: The Spurs shot 34.0 percent of their shots inside the 3-point arc against Dallas and 48.5 percent of their attempts outside of it.

Weird stat of the game II: According to Basketball-Reference.com, the Spurs became only the 16th team since 1985 to win a game by at least 22 points when shooting less than 40 percent from the field. San Antonio finished at 39.5 percent.

Quote of the game: ”You didn’t see the real Dirk Nowitzki tonight, that’s for sure,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich, commenting on Nowitzki six points on 3-for-11 shooting in 24 minutes. It was the first time that Nowitzki had scored six points or less in a game with at least 20 minutes since a playoff loss to Portland on May 2, 2003.

How the schedule stacks up: The schedule can be blamed for the struggles by both teams Thursday night. Both teams were playing on the second night of a back-to-back. The Spurs are in the middle of a run of four games in five nights. Dallas was playing its fourth game in five nights and will finish a stretch of five games in seven games with a home game against New Orleans Saturday night.

Injuries: Ginobili missed his second game after undergoing surgery earlier in the day for a fractured fifth left metacarpal. Dallas guard Jason Kidd suffered a lower back injury in the final minute of the first quarter and did not return. Kidd failed to score in 11:32 of game action.

Parker, Duncan provide finishing touch for Spurs

By Jeff McDonald
jmcdonald@express-news.net

Time went by, and the minutes kept coming, then came overtime. By the end of a much-needed 101-95 Spurs victory Wednesday, Tim Duncan was sweating into his 73rd minute in two nights, logging the kind of playing time that, at age 35, had become a faded memory of younger era.

Asked afterward if he could give another 35 minutes today, if the schedule required it, Duncan answered with a mix of wry wit and realism.

“I think I could,” he said. “But my body might think differently.”

Duncan was never one for gaudy numbers or flashy statistics, and Father Time has robbed him of what little athleticism Mother Nature gave him. Even his signature banker is no longer automatic.

Yet what Duncan still has, hidden behind those blank-stare eyes yet on display minute-by-minute at the ATT Center in a game the Spurs absolutely had to have, is a burning desire to win.

Against Houston, Duncan filled his box score with 17 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, two blocks and three steals. In the process, he passed Larry Bird for 27th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, laughing that the go-ahead points came at the foul line, a place never all that kind to him.

It was the little things Duncan did that separated him against the Rockets and eventually shoved the Spurs to victory.

It was wrestling with Sam Dalembert for a key rebound. Hitting Tony Parker on a perfectly timed backdoor cut. That one perfect piece of footwork to keep Kyle Lowry from a sure layup in overtime.

“Tim’s a competitor,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of the two-time MVP. “Just because he’s a little older doesn’t mean he’s not going to compete.”

When Manu Ginobili went out with a broken hand, Popovich scoffed at the idea it would be up to his immediate replacement — either James Anderson or Gary Neal or Kawhi Leonard — to pick up the slack.

It was Duncan and Parker, the other two spokes of the Spurs’ Big Three, who would need to raise their games. Wednesday, they delivered, steadying the Spurs (7-4) through some unsure moments to their seventh home victory in as many dates.

For the second game in a row, Parker threw in a season high, this time going for 28 points with eight assists. The 29-year-old point guard played more than 45 minutes, a night after giving almost 36 in a 106-103 loss in Milwaukee.

“He’s unbelievable, man,” Duncan said, with a tinge of envy. “He’s going to be worn out tomorrow.”

Leonard, the rookie from San Diego State, earned his first career start at shooting guard. He replaced Neal, who was moved to the bench upon news that backup point guard T.J. Ford will miss the next four to six weeks with a torn left hamstring.

Leonard finished with 11 points, his third consecutive double-figure game, and eight rebounds and survived a trial by fire chasing Houston scoring machine Kevin Martin.

Martin finished 18 points, but had to work for them. Lowry had 22 points for Houston (3-7). Luis Scola scored 20, but only six after the first quarter.

With both teams having played the night before — Houston won in Charlotte — overtime seemed almost cruel. It seemed especially unkind to Duncan.

Clearly down to his last drop of fuel, Duncan missed his first four tries in OT and was 1 of 4 from the foul line.

Richard Jefferson hit the game’s biggest shot, a corner 3-pointer with 1:09 left in OT that gave the Spurs a 94-92 lead. Moments later, Duncan notched his only basket of the extra frame with 35.8 seconds left, when he spun Dalembert into a pretzel to eke out a shot on the block.

There are nights Duncan can feel the fingers of Father Time. He will probably feel them this morning.

He says he has not heard the whispers, from elsewhere in the NBA, that perhaps his game is not what it used to be.

“I don’t really care,” Duncan said. “I’m just trying to play the game, go out and see what I’ve got.”

Wednesday night, he had just enough.

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Spurs 101, Rockets 95 OT – 20120111

Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs (21) goes up to score the the field game that won the game for the Spurs as Samuel Dalembert of the Houston Rockets defends during the overtime period of NBA action at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. BILLY CALZADA / gcalzada@express-news.netHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Luis Scola of the Houston Rockets attempts to pass off as Tony Parker, left, and Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs reach for the ball during fourth-quarter NBA action at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. BILLY CALZADA / gcalzada@express-news.netHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

DeJuan Blair of the San Antonio Spurs is determined during second-half NBA action at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. BILLY CALZADA / gcalzada@express-news.netHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Tony Parker of the Spurs passes off as Jordan Hill, left, and Chase Bodiner of the Rockets defend during first-half NBA action at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. BILLY CALZADA / gcalzada@express-news.netHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs hangs from the rim as is his custom before the team’s game against the Houston Rockets at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. BILLY CALZADA / gcalzada@express-news.netHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs shoots as Patrick Patterson of the Houston Rockets defends during NBA action at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. BILLY CALZADA / gcalzada@express-news.netHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Tiago Splitter of the San Antonio Spurs is fouled by Goran Dragic, right, of the Houston Rockets as he successfully shoots during NBA first-half action at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. Splitter was able to make the ensuing free throw. BILLY CALZADA / gcalzada@express-news.netHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs dunks against the Houston Rockets during NBA action at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. BILLY CALZADA / gcalzada@express-news.netHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Tiago Splitter of the San Antonio Spurs, in white, is fouled by Luis Scola of the Houston Rockets as he makes a shot during NBA action at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. Splitter was able to convert on the ensuing free throw. BILLY CALZADA / gcalzada@express-news.netHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Matt Bonner of the San Antonio Spurs makes a reverse layup during first-half NBA action against the Houston Rockets at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. BILLY CALZADA / gcalzada@express-news.netHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)