 San Antonio's Tim Duncan lifts the Spurs above the Hornets with 33 points. Garrett Ellwood NBAE/Getty Images 56k | 300k |
"My team does not know me very well," said Parker, who was 4-of-7 from 3-point range. "So when they double-team Timmy (Duncan) or Terry Porter penetrates, the opportunities leave me open, so my job is much easier. My role is a coach's decision and that gives me a lot of confidence when he (Gregg Popovich) plays me."
"I think Tony Parker is a special player or we wouldn't start him at age 19," Popovich added.
After Duncan's drive started the surge and pulled San Antonio within 95-94, Parker's 3-pointer gave the Spurs the lead for good.
Duncan dunked and hit two free throws before Parker added a pair from the line to make it 103-95 with 39 seconds to go. Porter's jumper capped the scoring.
Parker, the Spurs' 2001 first-round pick who played in France's A League the past two years, has replaced Antonio Daniels in the starting lineup. He came into Thursday's contest averaging 9.4 points per game.
Duncan scored 13 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter and also grabbed six of his 16 rebounds in the period.
"Tony Parker and Terry Porter make things happen," Popovich said. "Parker uses his speed wisely and TP is able to feed off of that and make key shots. It doesn't take much of a genius, though, to go to Tim Duncan in the fourth quarter. That's just what we do."
"They had a couple of big guys who defended me well," Duncan added. "They had different styles but I was able to hit some shots down the stretch. Very important that we close strong. That built character, which is something we need right now."
David Wesley hit a 3-pointer to give Charlotte a 95-92 edge with 3:02 remaining, the sixth lead change of the quarter but the Hornets did not score again. They managed just 15 points in the period.
San Antonio, which made eight 3-pointers, shot 53 percent (40-of-76) from the field while holding Charlotte to 43 percent (35-of-81).
"I didn't think their defense had much to do with us not making shots," Charlotte coach Paul Silas said. "I can't put my finger on what's wrong, but we had great production from the bench. Their dribble penetration hurt us a lot. Everybody they had penetrated and dished off."
Jamal Mashburn scored 21 points and Baron Davis added 18 for Charlotte, which suffered its third straight loss after opening with two wins.
Mashburn made five of his last six shots after missing eight of his first 10. He hit two straight fallaway jumpers to give Charlotte a 91-90 lead with 5:17 remaining.
After Bruce Bowen's driving layup put the Spurs back ahead, Eldon Campbell hit 1-of-2 from the line to tie it.
Porter added 11 points off the bench for the Spurs, going 3-for-3 from three-point range.
"When I got here, I did not have that range," Porter said. "It (three-point shooting) has extended my career. I like playing in this building. I have had good games here through my career. That atmosphere is great."
Parker poured in 10 points in the first period, helping the Spurs open a 31-20 advantage. The Hornets closed to 54-49 at intermission and the contest remained close throughout the second half with neither team leading by more than six until the final minute.
"We kept playing defense and we got better the last half of the fourth quarter, which is a good sign," Popovich said.
The Spurs (4-2) have won consecutive games for the first time this season.