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Gasol’s big game, late block boosts him to top of Thursday’s S&Ds

Pau Gasol missed out on an All-Star Game selection Thursday for the first time in three seasons.

He didn’t let that momentary disappointment affect his playing later that evening.

Gasol provided 25 points and 14 rebounds and delivered a game-saving block at the overtime buzzer that sealed the Los Angeles Lakers’ 88-87 victory at Boston.

His block of Ray Allen’s shot at the buzzer enabled the Lakers to escape with a victory, only their second win in the last eight road games.

“I’ve been in situations before in my career where you freeze … catch yourself looking at the ball and end up losing the game,” Gasol told the Asssociated Press.

Allen said he was stunned that Gasol was in position for his late play.

“I was in the perfect position,” Allen told the AP, “and he came out of nowhere.”

Lakers coach Mike Brown was just happy that Gasol was in place when he needed him.

“That shot that Ray Allen took was good, in my opinion,” Brown told the AP. “But Pau did not stop playing until he heard the horn, and he came up with the big block.”

That clutch play enabled him to lead Thursday’s Studs and Duds of the top players across the association.

STUDS

Los Angeles Lakers F Pau Gasol: Notched 25 points, 14 rebounds, three assists and two blocks in the Lakers’ overtime victory at Boston. Gasol’s key block at the end of overtime preserved the triumph.

Golden State G Stephen Curry: Erupted for 36 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and was plus-15 in the Warriors’ victory at Denver.

Los Angeles Lakers G Kobe Bryant: Went for 27 points, five rebounds, four assists and was plus-2 in the Lakers’ victory at Boston.

Sacramento G Tyreke Evans: Filled the stat sheet with 22 points, five rebounds, five assists, four steals and was plus-7 in the Kings’ triumph over Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma City G Russell Westbrook: Produced 33 points, six rebounds and three assists in the Thunder’s loss at Sacramento.

Houston’s bench: All five substitutes scored in double figures as they outscored Phoenix’s bench, 57-13, in the Rockets’ triumph over the Suns.

DUDS

Los Angeles Lakers G Derek Fisher: Missed all seven shots from the field with two turnovers and was minus-10 in the Lakers’ victory over Boston.

Phoenix G Sebastian Telfair: Missed all four shots with a turnover and was minus-19 in the Suns’ loss to Houston.

Denver G Rudy Fernandez: Went 4 for 13 from the field with four turnovers and was a team-worst minus-17 in the Nuggets’ loss to Golden State.

Oklahoma City C Kendrick Perkins: Was limited to five points on 1-for-4 shooting, had three turnovers and was minus-1 in the Thunder’s loss at Sacramento.

Boston F Kevin Garnett: Clanked through a 6-for-23 shooting effort with a turnover in the Celtics’ loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Spurs’ win streak comes to blazing halt

By Mike Monroe

PORTLAND, Ore. — When Spurs coach Gregg Popovich announced a starting lineup for his team’s game against the Trail Blazers that didn’t include anyone named Duncan or Parker, there were Portlanders who believed he had lost his mind.

How could the coach of a team that had won 11 games in a row and already was short three regular members of his playing rotation possibly leave his two best players on the bench, with no intention to play either?

With shooting guard Manu Ginobili, center Tiago Splitter and point guard T.J. Ford injured and one-third of the Spurs’ offensive production ruled out of action, the streak hit a brick wall as the Trail Blazers scored a 137-97 victory that extended a streak of their own.

The victory was Portland’s seventh straight over the Spurs at the Rose Garden. It was also their largest margin of victory ever over the Spurs.

What the uninformed didn’t understand about Popovich’s banishment of his two stars was the utter lack of significance he places on anything as pedestrian as a win streak, even one that has reached double digits.

“We’ve had the same goal for 15 years: To be the best team we can possibly be come playoff time,” Popovich said before the game. “We’ve never ever talked about what our record should be, whether we are going to win a championship, or not. Never. It’s never come up in any practice or game for 15 years.

“We just try to get better every day, and whatever happens, happens.”

Nothing that happened on the court mattered to Popovich as much as his concern for the physical toll the season has been taking on Parker, who leads the Spurs in minutes played, and Duncan, his oldest player.

“(Tim) and Tony need a rest,” he said before tipoff. “Everybody’s played a lot of games, and somewhere along the line, everybody gives somebody a rest, and I think we’ve reached that point.

“Whether it’s three games in four nights or X nights before, I don’t know, I’ve lost track. But we’ve been going and going and going, and if we don’t do it now, I think we’re asking for trouble later.”

The fact Duncan had played 41 minutes and 20 seconds in Saturday’s overtime victory in Los Angeles over the Clippers and 37:52 in Monday’s win over the Jazz factored into Popovich’s thinking.

Replacing Duncan and Parker were 20-year-old rookies Kawhi Leonard and Corey Joseph, with Danny Green, DeJuan Blair and Richard Jefferson on the floor at tipoff.

The Spurs actually managed to hang with the Blazers through the first seven minutes and led 20-19 after a 3-point basket by Gary Neal.

Thoughts of stealing a 12th straight win were doomed when the Trail Blazers followed with a 22-0 run that included five 3-point baskets.

The Spurs’ biggest blowout loss since a 111-69 setback at Chicago on March 5, 1997, didn’t diminish what Popovich’s team had done in winning the first seven games of its annual rodeo road trip. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, teams have played at least seven consecutive road games more than 250 times, but the Spurs are one of only two teams to have a stretch of seven wins on such trips.

The other team: the 2002-03 Spurs, who won the first eight on the initial rodeo trip before losing the final one. The Spurs can match that Thursday in Denver.

Duncan and Parker are expected to be available.

mikemonroe@express-news.net

– Associated Press

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Trail Blazers 137, Spurs 97: Feb. 21, 2012

San Antonio Spurs’ Cory Joseph, right, shoots as Portland Trail Blazers’ Nicolas Batum (88) defends in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) (AP)

Portland Trail Blazers’ Gerald Wallace (3) drives to the basket as San Antonio Spurs’ Matt Bonner, left, and teammate Eric Dawson (23) defends in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ DeJuan Blair (45) lays the ball up as Portland Trail Blazers’ Nicolas Batum, right, defends in the second quarter of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) (AP)

Portland Trail Blazers’ Wesley Matthews (2) drives as San Antonio Spurs’ Eric Dawson (23) defends in the second quarter of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) (AP)

Portland Trail Blazers’ LaMarcus Aldridge (12) shoots as San Antonio Spurs’ Eric Dawson (23) defends in the second quarter of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich shouts to his team in the fourth quarter during an NBA basketball game with the Portland Trail Blazers Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012, in Portland, Ore. The Trail Blazers defeated the Spurs 137-97. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker, left, looks on as teammate Tim Duncan, right, yawns in the fourth quarter during an NBA basketball game with the Portland Trail Blazers Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012, in Portland, Ore. The Trail Blazers defeated the Spurs 137-97. Both Parker and Duncan sat the game out on the bench. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Richard Jefferson towels off in the second half during an NBA basketball game with the Portland Trail Blazers Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012, in Portland, Ore. The Trail Blazers defeated the Spurs 137-97. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) (AP)

Parker fuels rare triumph in Philly

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Spurs 100, Sixers 90: Feb. 8, 2012

San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker celebrates after scoring against the Philadelphia 76ers in the second half of an NBA basketball game on Wednesday, Feb., 8, 2012, in Philadelphia. The Spurs won 100-90. (AP Photo/H. Rumph Jr ) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (9) drives against Philadelphia 76ers’ Jrue Holiday in the first half of an NBA basketball game on Wednesday, Feb., 8, 2012, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/H. Rumph Jr ) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ DeJuan Blair, left, fights for a loose ball with Philadelphia 76ers’ Elton Brand (42) in the first half of an NBA basketball game on Wednesday, Feb., 8, 2012, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/H. Rumph Jr ) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) goes up for a shot as Philadelphia 76ers’ Elton Brand (42) defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game on Wednesday, Feb., 8, 2012, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/H. Rumph Jr ) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (9) goes up for a basket as Philadelphia 76ers’ Andre Iguodala, top right, and Elton Brand (42) defend in the second half of an NBA basketball game on Wednesday, Feb., 8, 2012, in Philadelphia. The Spurs won 100-90. (AP Photo/H. Rumph Jr ) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, right, talks to Tony Parker(9) as they play against the Philadelphia 76ers in the second half of an NBA basketball game on Wednesday, Feb., 8, 2012, in Philadelphia. The Spurs won 100-90. (AP Photo/H. Rumph Jr ) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (9) defends as Philadelphia 76ers’ Lou Williams (23) goes up for a shot in the second half of an NBA basketball game on Wednesday, Feb., 8, 2012, in Philadelphia. The Spurs won 100-90. (AP Photo/H. Rumph Jr ) (AP)

Philadelphia 76ers’ Thaddeus Young (21) scores against the San Antonio Spurs in the second half of an NBA basketball game on Wednesday, Feb., 8, 2012, in Philadelphia. The Spurs won 100-90. (AP Photo/H. Rumph Jr) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Gary Neal, , front left, drives against Philadelphia 76ers’ Lou Williams, behind, in the second half of an NBA basketball game on Wednesday, Feb., 8, 2012, in Philadelphia. The Spurs won 100-90. (AP Photo/H. Rumph Jr ) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker, right, goes up for shot as Philadelphia 76ers’ Jrue Holiday (11) defends in the second half of an NBA basketball game on Wednesday, Feb., 8, 2012, in Philadelphia. The Spurs won 100-90. (AP Photo/H. Rumph Jr ) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tiago Splitter (22) has his shot blocked by Philadelphia 76ers’ Lavoy Allen in the second half of an NBA basketball game on Wednesday, Feb., 8, 2012, in Philadelphia. The Spurs won 100-90. (AP Photo/H. Rumph Jr ) (AP)

By Jeff McDonald

PHILADELPHIA — The name has changed over the years, from the CoreStates Center to First Union Center to Wachovia Center to the Wells Fargo Center.

Informally, the building had also been known as Spectrum II and Stack’s House, after Jerry Stackhouse, the team’s star when the place was built in 1996.

None of the name changes were enough to fool Tony Parker.

For as long as he’s been with the Spurs, the arena the Philadelphia 76ers call home might as well have been the Temple of Doom.

“Our history is really bad here,” Parker said. “We played so bad in Philly. I figured we had to get a win here sometime.”

Behind the kind of performance from Parker that channeled a pint-sized Philly scoring star of a bygone era — Allen Iverson — the Spurs thwarted the 76ers 100-90 on Wednesday, ending a string of helplessness in the City of Brotherly Love.

Parker scored 37 points, which would have been a season high if not for the 42 he dumped on Oklahoma City on Saturday, to help the Spurs run their season-best winning streak to six games.

Before Wednesday, the Spurs had won an NBA championship more recently than they’d won a game in Philadelphia. The win broke a string of four straight road losses to the 76ers.

It was just the Spurs’ third victory in the building now known as the Wells Fargo Center in the last 11 years.

“We always joke there’s something in the water here,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said before tipoff. “Every time we’re here, we get put back on our heels. We can’t score a basket. Defense just swarms us, and we seem to give in.”

None of the above happened Wednesday, as the Spurs (18-9) moved to 2-0 on their annual rodeo trip, with games against Eastern Conference dregs New Jersey, Detroit and Toronto just ahead.

In what might be their final game without injured guard Manu Ginobili — who Popovich said could return against the Nets on Saturday — the Spurs produced perhaps their most impressive victory of the season.

Gary Neal added 18 points for the Spurs, hitting all four of his 3-pointers, and Tiago Splitter picked-and-rolled to 15 as the Spurs beat back the Atlantic Division-leading Sixers (18-8) on their home floor.

Tim Duncan contributed 16 points and 11 rebounds for his third consecutive double-double, while the Spurs reached 100 points against a Sixers team that came in allowing a league-low 86.6 on average.

“We kind of played consistently,” said Duncan, whose team owns the NBA’s longest active win streak. “They hit some shots that kept them in the game. We stuck with it and got our defense to start working for us. We’re starting to play the way we want to play.”

As has often been the case recently, Parker carried the Spurs when it mattered.

Though Wednesday’s scoring binge won’t do much for Parker’s All-Star chances — reserve ballots were due Tuesday, with results to be announced tonight — no Western Conference coach who voted for him is apt to regret it.

Parker was a perfect 13 of 13 from the line against the 76ers, a testament to an offensive aggressiveness he sustained throughout. He also had eight assists.

“He had that ball on a string,” 76ers coach Doug Collins said. “We just never could get him under control.”

When the game teetered in the third quarter, with the Sixers taking a brief lead and ghosts of Philadelphia failures past howling, Parker took over.

At a timeout early in the second half, Popovich hit Parker with familiar marching orders.

“He thought it was a good moment to be aggressive,” Parker said.

Parker responded by scoring 11 points in the quarter’s final 9:21, and the Spurs took a 75-67 lead into the fourth.

Half an hour later, with Parker as a guide, the Spurs walked out of their Temple of Doom with a road victory that felt better than most.

“Our history here hadn’t been very good,” Duncan said. “We needed this win.”

jmcdonald@express-news.net

– Associated Press photos