Hornets-Spurs Preview

By ALAN FERGUSON
Posted Dec 20 2012 4:09PM

Another road-heavy stretch left the San Antonio Spurs weary and looking forward to one of their longest homestands of the season.

They'll try to begin that stay by avoiding their longest losing streak in more than 20 months Friday night against the lowly New Orleans Hornets, losers of nine in a row.

San Antonio (19-8) has played 12 of its last 16 games away from home, and that travel appeared to have taken its toll as the Spurs dropped their fourth straight road game Tuesday at Denver.

They couldn't take advantage of Tim Duncan's splendid all-around effort in that 112-106 defeat, their second in as many nights. The veteran had a season-high 31 points along with 18 rebounds, six assists and five blocks, but no other San Antonio player provided more than 16 points.

Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Danny Green and Gary Neal were a combined 11 of 42 in the team's worst shooting performance in nearly a month (40.0 percent).

"We've been on the road a lot and I just think we're a little bit tired and don't have the same energy," Parker said. "It's been a tough schedule but ... now we get two days off to rejuvenate and we have a long stretch at home to get it back."

The Spurs will try to use that rest to help them once again avoid a three-game skid. A 103-88 home win over Boston on Saturday prevented their first such losing streak in the regular season since a set of six consecutive defeats March 23-April 1, 2011.

The first of four straight games at the AT&T Center, where they've won four in a row, could help them stop their slide - and a visit from the Hornets (5-20) probably won't hurt. The Western Conference's last-place team is on the verge of its first 10-game losing streak in eight seasons.

"We have to really focus on these games, get back on a winning streak and get back to feeling good about ourselves," Duncan said.

New Orleans has averaged 88.1 points during its skid, and it had one of its worst offensive performances of the season in a 93-77 road loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday. Robin Lopez posted a season-high 22 points and No. 1 overall draft pick Anthony Davis added 16, but no other player scored in double figures as the Hornets shot 38.7 percent - 2 of 19 from 3-point range.

"We have to watch the film and see what we did wrong and what breakdowns we had, so we can execute better," said leading scorer Ryan Anderson, who tied a season low with seven points and missed all eight of his attempts from beyond the arc. "Our focus could be a lot better and our energy. There's a lot of things we can work on."

Heading into the finale of a four-game trip, New Orleans has lost five straight on the road and five consecutive matchups with the Spurs. The Hornets have two wins in their last 19 visits to San Antonio including postseason.

The Spurs, though, needed Parker's go-ahead 3-pointer with 49.6 seconds left to lift them to a 99-95 win in New Orleans in the season opener for both teams Oct. 31. Duncan also hit a pair of late free throws while scoring a game-high 24 points and Parker finished with 23.

Davis had a team-best 21 points in his NBA debut.

Parker scores 25, Spurs beat Hornets 99-94

Posted Dec 22 2012 12:42AM

SAN ANTONIO (AP) A home game was exactly what the weary San Antonio Spurs needed.

Tony Parker scored 25 points and Tim Duncan had 15 points and 10 rebounds as the Spurs beat the skidding New Orleans Hornets 99-94 on Friday night.

Back home after playing six of their past seven on the road, San Antonio (19-9) got 13 points from Manu Ginobili and 12 from Boris Diaw in snapping a two-game skid.

Top draft pick Anthony Davis had 18 points and 11 rebounds to lead New Orleans (5-21), which lost its 10th straight. Greivis Vasquez added 14 points, Ryan Anderson 12 and Brian Roberts 11.

Aided by a couple days of rest and a healthy roster, the Spurs fought off a late rally by the Hornets.

Kawhi Leonard had eight points, two rebounds, two steals and an assist after missing a month with a knee injury. Stephen Jackson added five points in his second game back from a broken finger.

"It was great to be back (at home), and it is going to take a little time getting used to having those guys back," Duncan said. "A lot of adjustments right now, but it is good to be home and good to have everybody back to full strength."

The depth was evident in the second quarter when eight players scored as San Antonio went on a 19-9 run to build its largest lead. Parker's layup gave the Spurs a 52-36 lead with 3 minutes left in the first half.

Leonard made a 3-pointer during the run, scoring on his only attempt a minute after entering the game for the first time.

"I've been very anxious to play basketball," Leonard said. "I just took my time with the injury. I didn't want it to pop back up during the season, so I just took the time out to get better.

"I've been conditioning for two weeks, so I felt great."

Leonard's return allowed Spurs coach Gregg Popovich to limit everyone's playing time, which proved critical in the final quarter.

New Orleans outscored San Antonio 33-27 in the fourth, including a jumper by Roger Mason that pulled the Hornets to 84-80 midway through the period.

But that was as close as the young Hornets came.

"The one thing that happens in a situation like that is you use so much energy to get back in the game that when you cut it to four, six or even tie it up, it's just tough," New Orleans coach Monty Williams said. "That's when you need a couple of guys who have been there and done that, who can get the ball at the end of games and draw a foul or get to the basket."

The Spurs have that player in Parker, who cut through the Hornets' defense for a driving layup following Mason's jumper. Nando De Colo followed with a 10-foot jumper and San Antonio went on a 9-4 run to regain control of the game.

"Tony has been doing that all season," Popovich said. "He is having a great year. He really feels the responsibility down the stretch in games to get something done. If we are a little bit flat or not making shots, that kind of thing, he has stepped up and been very confident in those situations."

The late rally was in contrast to a sloppy start. The teams were tied 4-all after the opening 4 minutes, going a combined 4 for 15 from the field with three turnovers.

Davis and Duncan both seemed to enjoy their second meeting of the season. Duncan spun and dunked on Davis with 7 minutes left in the first half as the Hornets rookie attempted to crowd the veteran All-Star on the low block.

With 5 minutes left in the game, Davis attempted to shoot after a whistle had stopped play, but Duncan started grabbing the rookie's shirt and held his arms down in jest as both smiled.

NOTES: The last time San Antonio had its entire roster available was Nov. 15, when the Spurs lost 104-100 at home to the New York Knicks. ... San Antonio has played 17 road games, the most of any team in the NBA this season. ... Hornets guard Eric Gordon (right knee) and big man Jason Smith (shoulder sprain) sat out.

Notebook: Spurs 99, Hornets 94

Andrew McNeill, For NBA.com
Posted Fri Dec 21, 2012 11:53 PM - Updated Fri Dec 21, 2012 11:53 PM

THE FACTS: The Spurs survived a late push from the Hornets to win 99-94 on Friday night. The Spurs went up by as many as 16 points in the third quarter, but an 8-0 Hornets run it the fourth quarter cut the lead to four with under six minutes left in the game. Eight points in the final period from Tony Parker helped San Antonio put away New Orleans.

Parker led the Spurs (20-8) with 25 points on 10-for-17 shooting and five assists. Tim Duncan contributed 15 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. The Spurs won despite shooting 4-for-18 (22.2 percent) from 3-point range.

Anthony Davis was the high scorer for New Orleans (5-21) with 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Greivis Vasquez had 14 points.

QUOTABLE: "Tony [Parker] has been doing that all season. ... He really feels the responsibility down the stretch in games to get something done."

-- Spurs coach Gregg Popovich

THE STAT: The Spurs assisted on 29 of their 39 field goals, while the Hornets had 15 assists on 39 field goals.

TURNING POINT: After the Hornets cut the lead to four points in the fourth quarter, Parker drove through the middle of the lane and scored a layup. On the next trip down the floor, Nando De Colo dribbled out and then back toward the hoop and hit a 10-foot jumper as well as drawing the foul. The basket put the Spurs lead back to eight points helped stop the Hornets' late push.

QUOTABLE II: "We weren't playing any transition defense. That's where their points came from in the first half."

-- Hornets forward Anthony Davis

HOT: The Spurs were 35-for-58 (60 percent) on two-point baskets against the Hornets.

NOT: New Orleans and San Antonio combined to shoot 6-for-34 (17.6 percent) from 3-point range.

ROOKIE WATCH: De Colo had four points, two rebounds and two assists in 14 minutes of action for the Spurs. Davis lead the Hornets on both ends, while Austin Rivers scored seven points and grabbed five rebounds. Darius Miller had one rebound in just over four minutes of action for the Hornets.

NOTABLE: Kawhi Leonard scored eight points to go along with two rebounds and two steals in his first game since November 15 after missing time with quadriceps tendinitis in his left leg. ...The loss is the 10th in a row for New Orleans.

UP NEXT: For the Hornets, Saturday vs. Indiana, Wednesday @ Orlando, Friday vs. Toronto. For the Spurs, Sunday vs. Dallas, Wednesday vs. Toronto, Friday vs. Houston.

• Hornets: Gordon, Smith
• Spurs: Joseph

• Hornets: --
• Spurs: --

• Lead Changes: 1
• Times Tied: 3

• Arena: AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
• Officials: #36 David Jones, #9 Derrick Stafford, #56 Mark Ayotte
• Attendance: 17943
• Duration: 1:56