Spurs-Trail Blazers Preview

By JEFF MEZYDLO
Posted Feb 21 2012 2:43AM

For the second straight season, the San Antonio Spurs have a chance to win 12 straight games. In order to repeat that feat, however, they must find a way to win in Portland.

The Spurs look to extend the NBA's longest winning stretch of the season and snap a six-game road skid against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday night.

Tony Parker had 23 points with 11 assists, Tim Duncan added 20 and Richard Jefferson hit a 3-pointer with 6.5 seconds left to seal San Antonio's 11th consecutive victory, 106-102 at Utah on Monday. The Spurs (23-9), winners of 12 straight from Nov. 1-24, 2010, have won eight in a row on the road, including the first seven on a nine-game trip that ends Thursday in Denver.

The Spurs, who last won nine straight away from home Jan. 16-Feb. 12, 2006, have averaged 107.3 points in the last three games. They also continue to win the close ones, with the last four decided by seven or fewer points.

San Antonio overcame a 10-point third-quarter deficit to extend a winning streak that dates to a 101-100 overtime loss at Dallas on Jan. 29.

"Persistence," said Duncan, averaging 16.2 points in the last 10 games. "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."

San Antonio, however, has averaged 90.3 points during a six-game skid at Portland that dates to a 72-65 win April 6, 2008. It's the team's longest current losing streak to a single opponent.

Parker had 20 points and nine assists in San Antonio's 99-83 home win over the Trail Blazers on Jan. 13, but he's averaged 10.8 and 3.8 assists in the last four at Portland.

The veteran point guard has averaged 25.5 points in the last 10 games overall, including 29.0 and 11.7 assists over the last three.

"Tony's an All-Star," coach Gregg Popovich said. "He had another magnificent game (Monday) - scoring, finding people, playing tough, being a leader. He was good."

The Spurs continue to succeed despite playing without injured contributors Manu Ginobili (oblique) and Tiago Splitter (calf), both expected to miss two weeks.

"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."

Though the Spurs have had their problems in Portland, the Trail Blazers (17-16) have lost four of five at home since winning 11 of their first 12 at the Rose Garden. Portland snapped a four-game home skid with a 97-77 win over Atlanta on Saturday, but fell 103-92 to the Lakers in Los Angeles on Monday.

LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum each had 18 points as the Trail Blazers were unable to overcome a 29-7 first-quarter deficit Monday. It was the lowest-scoring first quarter in club history.

"We have to have everyone ready," Aldridge said. "We all have to be ready to play our best game. (Monday) it wasn't there."

Despite his team's inconsistency, Batum has averaged 21.8 points on 51.2 percent shooting (43 of 84) in the last five games since entering the starting lineup.

Aldridge, who had 29 points at San Antonio earlier this season, has averaged 23.2 during the Trail Blazers' home winning streak in the series.

No Parker & Duncan, Spurs fall to Blazers 137-97

By ANNE M. PETERSON
Posted Feb 22 2012 1:43AM

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) A win is a win to the Trail Blazers.

Portland faced the San Antonio Spurs, playing without resting stars Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, and led by as many as 48 points on the way to a 137-97 victory.

"It still counts, right?" said LaMarcus Aldridge, among six Blazers who had with 16 points or more.

Jamal Crawford scored 20 points, shooting 5 for 7 on 3-pointers, and had eight assists. Gerald Wallace and Nicolas Batum each had 19 points before Portland sat its starters for most of the fourth quarter.

Kawhi Leonard had 24 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Spurs, who saw the end to 11-game overall winning streak and an eight-game streak on the road.

San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said before the game that he was resting Parker and Duncan because the Spurs were playing three games in four nights. Parker, who had not missed a game this season, is averaging 19.5 points per game, while Duncan's averaging 19.9 points and 8.6 rebounds.

San Antonio was also without guard Manu Ginobili for the second straight game because of a strained left oblique. Ginobili is expected to miss two weeks. Brazilian forward Tiago Splitter was also out for a second straight game with a right calf strain.

"It would be great if I would still be able to play Manu and Tiago tonight and still rest Tony and Tim, but that's not the case," Popovich said. "Those guys are out, but I can't run our guys into the ground when it's time for them to rest based on the schedule and the time they've been playing.

"That's what's going to happen if you want to put some money in the bank for later."

The Spurs are on their annual rodeo road trip which keeps them away from home for an extended period while the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo takes over the AT&T Center. The team was coming off a 106-102 victory at Utah on Monday night. They travel to Denver on Thursday for their final game before the All-Star break.

In addition to Leonard, San Antonio also started rookie guard Corey Joseph, who had five points. Danny Green finished with 16 points.

The Spurs had not lost by 40 or more points since March 5, 1997, when they fell 111-69 at Chicago.

The Blazers were also playing the second of a back-to-back, after a tough 103-92 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. In the loss, the Blazers had just seven points in the first quarter. Against the Spurs, they had 41.

"We needed to get back on track, we needed to bounce back from that loss that we had and we did it tonight," Aldridge said.

Blazers coach Nate McMillan warned his team not to get too caught up in who wasn't on the floor for the Spurs.

"Sometimes it can be a letdown. For our guys, as I told them, it's not about the team or who is out, we need to play the game," he said. "I thought they did. They went out, stayed focused, and played the game the right way."

McMillan tinkered with his starting lineup, starting Crawford at the point rather than Raymond Felton. Crawford started a game for the Blazers earlier this season but is normally a reserve. He won the NBA's Sixth Man award for the 2009-10 season while with Atlanta.

Felton has struggled this season, and had just nine points against the Lakers. He finished with 16 against the Spurs.

Coming off the bench, Felton hit two straight 3-pointers that put the Blazers up 35-20. He added another one to put Portland up 41-23 at the end of the first quarter. It was the most points the Blazers scored in a quarter all season.

Aldridge hit a layup that made it 53-32, and Crawford sank a 3-pointer that sent Portland to the break with a 66-43 lead.

Batum's 3-pointer made it 88-55 and it was never a contest. Luke Babbitt made a 3-pointer that gave the Blazers a 120-75 lead with 7:11 left, but many fans had departed long before then.

Wesley Matthews, who finished with 11 points, left the game early in the fourth quarter with a mild left ankle sprain.

"One loss isn't going to do anything to us so we're just going to keep moving on," Leonard said.

NOTES: Aldridge has a cameo in this week's episode of "Portlandia," the IFC channel's comedy about life in the Rose City. Aldridge appears with director Penny Marshall. ... Portland gets an extended rest over the All-Star break and doesn't play again until Feb. 29, when the team visits Denver. ... The last time the Blazers had six players with at least 16 points was Dec. 20, 1992 against Golden State at the Memorial Coliseum.

Notebook: Blazers 137, Spurs 97

Posted Wednesday February 22, 2012 1:30AM

By Kerry Eggers, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: Portland jumped on San Antonio early and never let off the gas in a 137-97 shellacking Tuesday night at the Rose Garden, ending the Spurs' 11-game win streak. The Blazers (18-16) used a 22-0 run to go in front 41-20 late in the first quarter, and the rout was on.

LaMarcus Aldridge led seven Blazers in double figures with 21 points, with Jamal Crawford (20), Nicolas Batum and Gerald Wallace (19 apiece) and rookie Elliot Williams close behind.

San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich -- already missing injured Manu Ginobili -- chose to rest stars Tony Parker and Tim Duncan as the Spurs (23-10) were playing the eighth game of a nine-game road trip. Rookie forward Kawhi Leonard collected 24 points, 10 rebounds and five steals.

It was San Antonio's most one-sided defeat since a 111-69 loss at Chicago in March 1997.

QUOTABLE: "When you want a win, you don't care who you're playing. [Going against their] JV, varsity -- it's still a win, right? We wanted it after last night. We wanted to come back from the loss we had, and we did it tonight."
-- LaMarcus Aldridge, referring to the Blazers' 103-92 loss to the Lakers at Staples Center Monday night.

THE STAT: Portland shot season bests from the field (.593) and 3-point range (.536), matching its season high with 15 made 3s. The Blazers had season highs for most points in a quarter (41, the first) a half (66, the first), through three quarters (103) and for a game.

TURNING POINT: The Spurs led 20-19 seven minutes into the game when the Blazers launched on a 22-point run. The visitors missed eight straight shots, and when the smoke cleared, Portland was in front 41-20.

QUOTABLE II: "Portland played great. [The Blazers] were aggressive and started the game on fire. They kept the intensity and force up the whole game. Our guys? They busted their [butts]. They did as well as they could."
-- Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.

HOT: Jamal Crawford and Raymond Felton combined to make 7-for-8 3-pointers in the first quarter -- and the miss was a desperation shot by Felton as the shot clock expired. Crawford was 4-for-4 and Felton 3-for-4. Portland wound up 15-for-28 (.536) from beyond the arc.

NOT: San Antonio shot .381 from the field. Take away Leonard's 9-for-14 and the Spurs were 23-for-70 (.328).

QUOTABLE III: "Sometimes that type of game can be a challenge. ... there can be a letdown. As I told our guys, 'It's not about who's out. We need to play the game.' I thought they did."
-- Portland coach Nate McMillan.

INSIDE THE ARENA: LaMarcus Aldridge and Special Olympian Jackie Buxton -- who will represent Portland during All-Star Weekend in Orlando -- exchanged jerseys during a pregame center-court presentation.

GOOD MOVE: Portland coach Nate McMillan started Crawford in place of Felton at point guard. Crawford made 6-for-8 shots -- 5-for-7 from beyond the arc -- and dished out eight assists with one turnover in 30 minutes. Felton was 6-for-11 (4-for-8 on 3s) and contributed 16 points and four assists with one turnover in 24 minutes.

BAD MOVE: Leonard tried to save the ball under the Portland basket, throwing it right Aldridge. Only an intentional foul saved a dunk.

NOTABLE: Portland has dominated San Antonio since the 2008-09 season, winning 10 of 11 meetings. The Blazers have beaten the Spurs seven straight times at the Rose Garden.

UP NEXT: For the Blazers, Feb. 29 at Denver, March 1 vs. Miami, March 3 vs. Minnesota. For the Spurs, Tuesday at Denver, Feb. 29 at Chicago, March 2 vs. Charlotte.

• Spurs: Ford, Ginobili, Splitter
• Trail Blazers: Johnson, Oden

• Spurs: --
• Trail Blazers: --

• Lead Changes: 4
• Times Tied: 1

• Arena: Rose Garden, Portland, OR
• Officials: #9 Derrick Stafford, #45 Brian Forte, #73 Tre Maddox
• Attendance: 20567
• Duration: 2:08