Rested Duncan, clutch Parker help Spurs cool off Suns

By Jeff McDonald

PHOENIX – Spurs coach Gregg Popovich opted to hold Stephen Jackson out of Tuesday’s 107-100 victory over the Suns, erring as he often does on the side of rest for his older players.

The ultra-competitive 33-year-old swingman promised he wouldn’t fight Popovich on the decision.

On one condition.

“Just as long as they don’t list me as ‘DND-Old,’ ” Jackson said with a laugh.

That was the official designation given Tim Duncan two nights earlier, when Popovich chose to hold the 35-year-old power forward out of a win over Philadelphia. The DND stands for “did not dress.”

The Spurs’ box-score punchline, which earned the team attention on several national sports talk shows, was a collaboration between Duncan and athletic trainer Will Sevening.

“Sometimes it’s more fun just to be totally honest,” Popovich said.

Duncan dressed Tuesday, and took the floor at U.S. Airways Center. Contrary to popular myth, he did not look ancient.

Freshened by two days rest, Duncan produced 26 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Spurs to their fifth consecutive victory.

It marked the first time the Spurs’ Big Three had played together since a March 21 win over Minnesota, which Tony Parker left early with a tight hamstring.

The trio of Duncan, Parker and Manu Ginobili combined for 63 points Tuesday, as the Spurs beat a Suns team sizzling since the All-Star break.

Duncan, who has scored in double figures in every March game he’s played, admitted Sunday’s DND helped him. He just hopes that admission doesn’t make it back to his head coach.

“Honestly, I do feel better,” said Duncan, who was 11 of 16. “I don’t want to say so, because then Pop’s going to start resting me more.”

There was a time when the Spurs, once derided by their own coach as “older than dirt,”  might not have been built to win four games in five nights.

Yet with equal parts depth and moxie they’ve been able to keep their winning streak going, even with key players out, even with the daily grind beginning to wear even on younger players.

“Lucky for us, we’re deep,” Parker said. “If somebody’s not playing, everybody else has to step up.”

Tuesday’s game was a throwback of sorts. With some exception, he guys doing the stepping up were the ones with All-Star credentials.

Parker had 12 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter, while Ginobili scored 13. Kawhi Leonard, a 20-year-old rookie small forward rapidly becoming a candidate for a Big Fourth, supplied 14 points and seven rebounds.

Back in the lineup Tuesday, Duncan set the tone early, scoring nine of the Spurs’ first 11 points. By halftime, he had 17 points and eight rebounds, already a better-than-average night’s work for him.

When Duncan drained his first four shots, Parker knew it was going to be a good night.

“You saw it from the get-go,” said Parker, who scored eight points during a 17-6 run in the fourth quarter that put the game away. “He was very aggressive, didn’t hesitate on his shot.”

For the Spurs, the win looked even better in practice than it did on paper.

Even after losing Tuesday, Phoenix has won 11 of its past 16, going from seven games under .500 to the outskirts of the playoff race. The Spurs (34-14) won Tuesday despite a career-best 32 points from Shannon Brown, who drew the start in place of the injured Grant Hill.

The game was there for the taking for the Suns, who led by five in the third quarter but couldn’t stop Parker in the fourth.

“They’ve shown a lot of character,” Popovich said of the Suns. “There was a point in the season where they were having a tough time. They’re playing their best basketball at the right time.”

The Spurs, meanwhile, have been enjoying the best of both worlds, juggling youth and experience. They have been able to win games while keeping older veterans rested during the lockout-compressed season.

The Spurs finish a stretch of five games in six days tonight at Sacramento. They are 12-2 in their past 14 road games, after starting 2-8.

Lesser lights fueled the Suns, who fell to 25-25 after a brief visit above .500.

Brown, who had not topped 21 points in a game the season, had 14 in the first quarter. He finished 11 of 18, and 5 of 10 from the 3-point line, but made only one shot after the 4:51 mark of the third. Marcin Gortat added 21 points and 14 rebounds for Phoenix, which lost its first game at home since March 12.

“You’ve got to be able to win a 120-point game, but you also have to be able to win a 90-point game,” Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry said.

Tuesday, it was the Spurs who won a shootout. They did behind their venerable captain, who on this night was not so old after all.

jmcdonald@express-news.net

Twitter: @JMcDonald_SAEN

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Spurs 107, Suns 100: March 27, 2012


Phoenix Suns’ Shannon Brown dunks over San Antonio Spurs’ Daniel Green (4) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 27, 2012, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) (AP)


San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20), of Argentina, dives for the ball in front of Phoenix Suns’ Shannon Brown during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 27, 2012, in Phoenix. The Spurs defeated the Suns 107-100.(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) (AP)


Phoenix Suns’ Marcin Gortat (4), of Poland, gets past San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan for a score during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 27, 2012, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) (AP)


Phoenix Suns’ Marcin Gortat (4), of Poland, loses control of the ball as he goes up for a shot against San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 27, 2012, in Phoenix.(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) (AP)


Phoenix Suns coach Alvin Gentry, left, laughs as he talks with San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker, of France, before an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 27, 2012, in Phoenix.(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) (AP)


Phoenix Suns’ Ronnie Price (2) gets off a shot over San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan, right, as Suns’ Marcin Gortat (4), of Poland, watches during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 27, 2012, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) (AP)


Phoenix Suns’ Steve Nash (13) shoots a reverse layup, and misses, in front of San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (9), of France, during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 27, 2012, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) (AP)


San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan, right, gets ready to dunk as he gets past Phoenix Suns’ Channing Frye (8) and Marcin Gortat, behind Frye, during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 27, 2012, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) (AP)


San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker, of France, scores over Phoenix Suns’ Sebastian Telfair (31) during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 27, 2012, in Phoenix.(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) (AP)


San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili, left, of Argentina, strips the ball from Phoenix Suns’ Steve Nash during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 27, 2012, in Phoenix. The Spurs defeated the Suns 107-100.(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) (AP)


San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili, front, of Argentina, beats Phoenix Suns’ Robin Lopez to the basket for a score during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 27, 2012, in Phoenix. The Spurs defeated the Suns 107-100.(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) (AP)


San Antonio Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard (2) charges Phoenix Suns’ Ronnie Price, left, as Suns’ Sebastian Telfair (31) and Robin Lopez look on during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 27, 2012, in Phoenix. The Spurs defeated the Suns 107-100.(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) (AP)


San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) beats Phoenix Suns’ Marcin Gortat, of Poland, to the basket for a score as Channing Frye (8) and Steve Nash (13) look on during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 27, 2012, in Phoenix. The Spurs defeated the Suns 107-100.(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) (AP)


San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20), of Argentina, dunks against the Phoenix Suns during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 27, 2012, in Phoenix. The Spurs defeated the Suns 107-100.(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) (AP)

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Durant, Thunder steal one vs. Magic

During his All-Star Game MVP performance last week, Kevin Durant made the Amway Center in Orlando, Fla., his personal playground, scoring at will with a barrage of jump shots and easy open-floor baskets.

The rims weren’t quite as kind early on during the Oklahoma City forward’s return trip, but he got reacquainted with them late and also got help from fellow All-Star Russell Westbrook to help the Thunder pull out a 105-102 victory over the Orlando Magic on Thursday night.

Durant scored 38 points, including 18 in the fourth quarter, and Westbrook added 29 points and 10 assists as Oklahoma City erased a 14-point deficit to battle back for the win.

Durant’s effort was two points better than his All-Star night and also included five 3-pointers and a 9-for-9 night at the free-throw line — all in a game-high 42 minutes of action. The Thunder’s win was their seventh straight, matching a streak from earlier in the season.

“I was so down on myself. I was really going down after the first quarter,” Durant said. “But my coaches and my teammates continued to encourage me and told me they believed in me. It just clicked for me, and I started to make a few shots and free throws.

“Once your teammates give you that confidence, no matter what you feel good, and I was able to make some shots.”

The Magic had a chance to send it to overtime, but Jason Richardson’s long 3-pointer bounced off the backboard at the buzzer.

It was a fitting culmination of a final 12 minutes for the Magic in which they went just 8 for 25 from the field. The Thunder, who struggled to find shots in the first half, finished 10 for 15 in the final period.

Dwight Howard scored 33 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead all five Magic starters in double figures.

“We have to be able to execute and get stops,” he said. “That’s the one thing we didn’t do well tonight in the fourth quarter. But it’s a good lesson for us.”

Suns 104, Timberwolves 95: Grant Hill scored 15 of his season-high 20 points in the second half and Phoenix pulled away at home, beating weary Minnesota.

Six players reached double figures for the Suns in their first game since the All-Star break. Steve Nash had 13 points and matched his season high with 17 assists. Marcin Gortat scored 17 for Phoenix in its ninth straight victory over the Timberwolves.

Kevin Love, who sat out the Timberwolves’ 104-85 loss to the Lakers in Los Angeles on Wednesday night because of flulike symptoms, scored 23 on 8-of-25 shooting. Luke Ridnour scored 15 for the T’wolves, who were playing for the third time in as many nights.

Minnesota was without J.J. Barea, who strained his right calf against the Lakers.
All five starters reached double figures for the Timberwolves, who shot 50 percent (21 of 42) in the first half but fell off afterward, hitting just 29 percent (13 of 44) the rest of the way. Love was 3 of 13 in the second half, 1 of 6 in the fourth quarter. Minnesota made 1 of 13 3-pointers. The Suns shot 53 percent.

The 39-year-old Hill, the league’s second-oldest player by one day behind Kurt Thomas, made four of five shots in a 10-point third quarter to lead the Suns’ comeback.

Shannon Brown scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half for Phoenix, while Channing Frye added 14 points and Jared Dudley 12.

The Timberwolves took the lead late in the first half and stayed ahead until a 13-2 run by the Suns late in the third quarter.

Love’s 3-pointer, the first by either team and the only one of the game for the T’wolves, put Minnesota ahead 70-64 with 5:06 to play in the quarter. But Frye’s three ignited the 13-3 Suns’ surge. Nikola Pekovic’s rebound basket made it 72-67, then Phoenix scored the next 10. Gortat blocked Derrick Williams’ shot, and Brown’s emphatic breakaway dunk put the Suns ahead for good 73-72 with 2:02 left in the third.

Sunday: Suns (4-7) at Spurs (8-4)

Time: 8 p.m.
TV: FSNSW, ESPN
Radio: WOAI-AM 1200, KCOR-AM 1350

STARTING LINEUPS

Point guard
Spurs: 9 Tony Parker (6-2, 11th yr)
Suns: 13 Steve Nash (6-3, 16th yr)
Parker has reached 20 points in three consecutive games.

Shooting guard
Spurs: 2 Kawhi Leonard (6-7, 1st yr)
Suns: 3 Jared Dudley (6-7, 5th yr)
Coach Alvin Gentry considering newly acquired Michael Redd at this spot.

Small forward
Spurs: 24 Richard Jefferson (6-7, 11th yr)
Suns: 33 Grant Hill (6-8, 17th yr)
Jefferson was shooting 60 percent on 3s at home until Friday’s 1 for 5.

Power forward
Spurs: 21 Tim Duncan (6-11, 15th yr)
Suns: 8 Channing Frye (6-11, 7th yr)
Duncan: 9 turnovers in past 2 games, including season-high 5 vs. Portland.

Center
Spurs: 45 DeJuan Blair (6-7, 3rd yr)
Suns: 4 Marcin Gortat (6-11, 5th yr)
Blair owns team-best four double-doubles this season.

SPURS RESERVES
25 James Anderson, G, 6-6, 2nd yr
15 Matt Bonner, C/F, 6-10, 8th yr
4 Danny Green, G/F, 6-6, 3rd yr
14 Gary Neal, G, 6-4, 2nd yr
5 Cory Joseph, G, 6-3, 1st yr
22 Tiago Splitter, C, 6-11, 2nd yr
23 Malcolm Thomas, F, 6-9, 1st yr

SUNS RESERVES
1 Josh Childress, F, 6-8, 6th yr
15 Robin Lopez, C, 7-0, 4th yr
11 Markieff Morris, F, 6-10, 1st yr
2 Ronnie Price, G, 6-2, 7th yr
22 Michael Redd, G, 6-6, 12th yr
31 Sebastian Telfair, G, 6-0, 8th yr
21 Hakim Warrick, F, 6-9, 7th yr
26 Shannon Brown, G, 6-4, 6th

COACHES
Spurs: Gregg Popovich
Suns: Alvin Gentry

INJURIES
Spurs: Manu Ginobili (fractured fifth metacarpal, left hand) and T.J. Ford (torn left hamstring) are out.
Suns: Nash (right quad contusion) and Hill (right quad tendon strain) are day-to-day.

PROJECTED INACTIVE PLAYERS
Spurs: Ginobili, Ford.
Suns: None.

NOTABLE
Spurs ran season-opening home winning streak to eight in Friday’s 99-83 win over Portland. … Blazers’ 40.5 percent shooting lowest for Spurs foe since Mavericks hit 35.1 percent on Jan. 5. … Suns are opening season-high five-game road trip that will also take them to Chicago, New York, Boston and Dallas. … Duncan needs nine points to pass ex-Seattle guard Gary Payton for 26th on NBA’s all-time scoring list. … Nash and Hill sat out Phoenix’s 110-103 loss to New Jersey on Friday but are likely today.