Spurs-Jazz Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Feb 19 2012 11:19PM

Gary Neal came up clutch for the San Antonio Spurs their last time out, helping extend the league's longest active winning streak.

Neal could be asked to take on an even bigger role with Manu Ginobili back on the sidelines.

The Spurs continue a nine-game trip seeking an 11th consecutive win Monday night against the scuffling Utah Jazz.

With seven straight wins in opposing arenas, San Antonio (22-9) is two away from matching the longest road winning streak in franchise history set Jan. 16-Feb. 12, 2006. The Spurs inched closer to matching that run Saturday thanks in large part to Neal.

After committing what appeared to be an extremely costly turnover with 9.5 seconds left in regulation, Neal came up with a steal and forced overtime on a game-tying 3-pointer with 5.7 seconds left. Neal later made a go-ahead 3 with 25 seconds to go in OT and the Spurs defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 103-100.

San Antonio, holding teams to 90.5 points per game during its overall winning streak, last won 11 in a row during a 12-game run Nov. 1-24, 2010.

"Sometimes you got to get lucky and we definitely got lucky," said Tim Duncan, who had 11 points and 17 rebounds versus the Clippers. "It's been a great run for us."

Saturday's win, however, came at a cost. Ginobili, playing in just his fourth game back since missing 22 with a broken left hand, had to be removed twice in the fourth quarter due to a strained left oblique. Ginobili was sent back to San Antonio for further evaluation and could be held out through the All-Star break.

"It looks like we won the battle, but it makes it tough to win the war," coach Gregg Popovich said.

Tiago Splitter, who had averaged 13.0 points off the bench over his previous five games, also remains unavailable after spraining his right calf in the first quarter Friday. Splitter, though, did travel with the team.

With Ginobili out, it's possible Neal could see an increase in minutes going forward. He finished with 17 points Saturday and has scored at least that many in three of his last five contests - during which he's made 11 of 20 (55.0 percent) from beyond the arc.

"At this level, confidence is the biggest thing you can have," Neal said. "It's good to be counted on with your teammates."

While Neal played the role of hero over the weekend, Tony Parker continued to pace the offense. Parker recorded 30 points and 10 assists Saturday and is averaging 27.1 and 8.6, respectively, in his last seven games.

Parker is averaging 22.8 points on 56.0 percent shooting in his last five visits to Utah (15-15). He had 14 points and eight assists as San Antonio posted its fourth consecutive victory over the Jazz, winning 104-89 at home Dec. 31 behind Ginobili's 23 points on 9-of-10 shooting.

Utah enters this matchup loser of six of eight after falling 101-85 at Houston on Sunday. The Jazz led by one at the break but were outscored 56-39 in the second half.

"I was very disappointed in our play and my own play," said Al Jefferson, who is expected to be fine after going to the bench with stomach pain toward the end of the game. "We have to do a better job."

Jefferson, who scored a season-high 34 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in Friday's 114-100 win over Washington, posted 23 and 11 on Sunday. Jefferson has only been on the winning side once in 20 career matchups versus San Antonio.

Parker lifts Spurs to 11th straight win, 106-102

By LYNN DeBRUIN
Posted Feb 21 2012 1:48AM

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Even shorthanded, the San Antonio Spurs keep finding ways to win.

On Monday night, Richard Jefferson stepped up big. He hit a 3-pointer with 6.5 seconds left - only his second field goal all night - as the Spurs pulled out a 106-102 victory over the Utah Jazz.

It was San Antonio's 11th straight win - the longest streak in the NBA - and the seventh consecutive on this nine-game road trip. San Antonio (23-9) hasn't lost on the road since Jan. 29 in Dallas.

"I haven't been shooting the ball particularly well of late ... and even passed up one shot with about a minute to go," Richard Jefferson said. "But I was blessed the (3) went in."

Tony Parker scored 23 points to lead the Spurs, who were without key players Manu Ginobili and Tiago Splitter , both expected to miss two weeks because of injury.

"When you have guys that go down, I think sometimes it helps guys re-focus knowing you have less room for error," Jefferson said. "Everybody has to contribute."

Without Splitter to provide a spark off the bench, Matt Bonner came through in the clutch with five 3-pointers. He finished with 20 points on 6-of-8 shooting.

"Matty was great. Matty was key for us tonight," said Spurs forward Tim Duncan, who finished with 20 points. "He was able to spread the floor and hit some shots and continue to score points for us when we really needed it."

Al Jefferson scored 20 points to lead the Jazz (15-16), who fell below .500 for the first time since Jan. 2, but he couldn't get a mid-range jumper to fall with 29 seconds left.

Paul Millsap added 16 for Utah, and Devin Harris 15. Josh Howard, in the starting lineup because of an injury to shooting guard Raja Bell, had 12 points.

San Antonio trailed by as many as eight points in the first half and 10 in the third quarter before rallying.

"Persistence," Duncan said. "We stuck with it. They did make a (13-0) run. We came out in the second half and didn't play well for those first couple of minutes. They got themselves a lead, but we knew there was a lot of game left. It kind of shows the character of this team, how we've been playing over the last 10-15 games. We're really starting to turn that corner."

The Jazz, forced to practice Monday morning despite arriving back from Houston at 12:30 a.m., played with much more intensity than they did in a blowout loss to Houston on Sunday.

In the end, they still lost - and have dropped seven of their past nine.

"Tough loss," Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said. "I thought our guys fought hard, especially after last night. We had a chance at the end. We just didn't get the plays at the end."

The Spurs led 56-53 at halftime, but the Jazz opened the second half on a 13-0 run.

The Spurs fought back, with Bonner hitting his fifth 3-pointer and making three free throws after being fouled on his next 3-point attempt.

And Parker had 11 assists to go with his 23 points.

"Tony's an All-Star," Gregg Popovich said of his veteran guard. "He had another magnificent game - scoring, finding people, playing tough, being a leader. He was good."

The bad continues to be injuries for Ginobili.

"It's killing him," Popovich said. "He just came back, played in a couple of games and was beginning to get in shape, get a rhythm and then he goes down again. He's pretty depressed about it. Hopefully the team can be over it and realize he and Tiago (Splitter) are going to gone for a while."

Ginobili suffered a strained left oblique in Saturday's 103-100 victory at the Los Angeles Clippers. An MRI on Monday confirmed the injury to Ginobili, who had played just his fourth game since missing 22 with a broken left hand. He will remain in San Antonio for the remainder of the Spurs' road trip.

Ginobili led the Spurs against the Jazz in the first meeting with 23 points on 9-of-10 shooting.

Splitter, who had averaged 13 points off the bench in his previous five games, traveled with the team to Salt Lake City but also is out two weeks with a strained right calf.

NOTES: Jazz great Karl Malone attended Monday's game just a few weeks after a very public spat with the organization and CEO Greg Miller. Afterward they met for about an hour in a closed-door session, though neither would discuss what was said.

Earlier this month, Malone went off on the organization. He said he was forced to use a scalper to buy tickets for a game and also blamed the organization for coach Jerry Sloan's abrupt retirement last February, saying the Jazz had given guard Deron Williams - now with the New Jersey Nets - too much power. On Monday, Malone, with his son, shrugged off reporters but sat in the front row under the "home" basket next to a fan holding a colorful "Malone for President" sign. A security guard stood behind him. At halftime, Malone hugged coach Corbin and other members of the Jazz staff in the concourse, but was signing autographs when Miller walked by. Miller looked at him, and kept walking. After the game, Miller went over to Malone and the two chatted briefly before going behind closed doors

"We talked," Malone said. "It's between us." ... Jazz SG Bell was inactive Monday after re-injuring his right adductor. It was the fourth game he missed because of the injury. The Jazz instead activated F DeMarre Carroll for the first time since signing him Feb. 8. ...The Spurs on Monday signed 6-9 rookie F Eric Dawson, a San Antonio native, to a 10-day contract. Dawson was averaging 15.9 points and 10.1 rebounds for Austin of the NBA Development League.

Notebook: Spurs 106, Jazz 102

Posted Tuesday February 21, 2012 12:48AM

By Andrew Aragon, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: With their road and overall winning streaks in jeopardy, the San Antonio Spurs turned to a Jefferson on President's Day.

Richard Jefferson hit two key shots in the fourth quarter to help the Spurs to a 106-102 win over the Utah Jazz on Monday night. It was San Antonio's eighth straight road win and 11th consecutive victory overall. The Spurs' 11-game win streak is the longest in the NBA this season.

Tony Parker continued his phenomenal season with 23 points and 11 assists as the Spurs rallied from an 11-point deficit. Tim Duncan and Matt Bonner each chipped in 20 points.

QUOTABLE: "We thought some guys were doing the job out there so we sat him for a good portion of the second half. To his credit, when we did go back to him down the stretch he was ready, and he knocked down some huge shots."
-- San Antonio head coach Gregg Popovich on Jefferson's impact in the fourth quarter. Jefferson played just 20 total minutes.

THE STAT: The Spurs -- especially Bonner -- were outstanding from 3-point range. They made 10 of their 21 3-point attempts (47.6 percent) with Bonner shooting 5-for-6 from 3-point range.

TURNING POINT: Jefferson didn't score in the game's first 44 minutes, but he hit two big baskets to sink the Jazz. His first shot -- a 23-footer just inside the 3-point line -- put San Antonio up 100-96 with 3:48 left. He later ended Utah's hopes for an upset by draining a 3-pointer from the right corner to give San Antonio a 105-100 lead. The shot came with 6.5 seconds remaining in the game.

HOT: The Utah crowd gasped every time Bonner caught the ball in 3-point range. He shot 6-for-8 overall, and his 20 points were a season-high. Utah's Devin Harris shot 6-for-8 for the Jazz, finishing with 15 points and four assists.

NOT: After Al Jefferson hit a jumper to get the Jazz within 102-100 with 2:11 remaining, Utah missed three straight shots and came up empty on four consecutive possessions. The Spurs missed their first eight shots in the third quarter and fell behind 69-58. Gary Neal shot just 4-for-13 for the Spurs, and Paul Millsap was 6-for-17 for the Jazz

QUOTABLE II: "I haven't shot the ball particularly well, haven't played particularly well lately. You just have to be ready whenever you get the opportunity. It wasn't smooth sailing, even in the last few minutes, but I was able to knock them down."
-- Spurs forward Jefferson on his late contributions against the Jazz.

GOOD MOVE: The Spurs got into the bonus at the free-throw line early in the quarter, with 9:48 remaining, and kept attacking. They earned 14 free-throw attempts in the fourth quarter, making 12 of them. The Jazz, by comparison, attempted just five foul shots in the fourth.

FANTASY WATCH: Bonner and DeJuan Blair fantasy studs? Maybe if they always played against the Jazz. Blair rewarded his patient owners with 15 points on 7-for-11 shooting, and Bonner always seems to shoot well in Utah. Blair had 17 points and 10 rebounds against the Jazz in the first meeting between the two teams this season on Dec. 31.

ROOKIE WATCH: Utah's Alec Burks got off to a promising start with six of his seven points and a big dunk in the first half. San Antonio's Kawhi Leonard had four points and eight rebounds in 29 minutes. Enes Kanter had four points and four rebounds in 10 minutes for the Jazz.

QUOTABLE III: "It's great for us, but there is absolutely no focus on it. We're not even thinking about it. We're going to play it a game at a time ... however it works, it works. We've had a good stretch here. Now we've got a couple more games to end strong."
-- Spurs forward Duncan on his team's winning streak.

NOTABLE: Utah's Jefferson, who scored a team-high 20 points and collected 11 rebounds, is only 1-20 in 21 career matchups against the Spurs. San Antonio had three players score 20 or more points for the first time this season. It was just the second time this season the Spurs allowed an opponent to score 100 or more points in regulation.

UP NEXT: For the Spurs, Tuesday @ Portland, Thursday @ Denver, Feb. 29 vs. Bulls. For the Jazz, Wednesday @ Minnesota, Tuesday @ Sacramento, Feb. 29 vs. Rockets.

• Spurs: Ford, Ginobili, Splitter
• Jazz: Bell

• Spurs: Neal
• Jazz: --

• Lead Changes: 15
• Times Tied: 8

• Arena: EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City, UT
• Officials: #33 Zach Zarba, #42 Eric Lewis, #50 Olandis Poole
• Attendance: 19105
• Duration: 2:12