Spurs-76ers Preview

By TAYLOR BECHTOLD
Posted Jan 20 2013 5:23PM

Even without two of their stars, the San Antonio Spurs took a big step toward putting their road struggles behind them.

After losing seven of nine away from home, the Spurs try to make it two straight road victories and sweep the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night.

With Tim Duncan given the night off and Manu Ginobili out with a hamstring injury, San Antonio (32-11) won its fourth in a row and 13th in 16 games with a 98-93 victory at Atlanta on Saturday. All three losses in that stretch had come on the road.

While Duncan should be well rested for Monday's contest, the Spurs aren't likely to have Ginobili back for at least another week because of a left hamstring problem. The injury has kept him out the last three games.

Tony Parker has helped fill the void by totaling 48 points and 20 assists in his last two contests, including a 23-point, 12-assist effort against the Hawks.

"He's really fun to watch at both ends of the court," coach Gregg Popovich said. "And he's been doing that all year."

Parker has played well recently against the 76ers, averaging 26.0 points in his last three meetings. He had 37 points to help San Antonio snap a four-game losing streak in Philadelphia with a 100-90 win Feb. 8.

While the 76ers (17-23) have won nine of their last 12 at home, the Spurs have taken three straight overall in the series. Six San Antonio players scored in double figures in a 109-86 win over Philadelphia on Jan. 5.

The Spurs have averaged 98.0 points in their last 10 road games after scoring 107.5 per contest in starting 11-2 away from home. San Antonio, though, will be facing a Philadelphia team that has allowed 104.1 points over its last seven games.

After struggling through a 3-13 stretch, the 76ers will try build on their second win in three games, 108-101 in overtime over Toronto on Friday.

Jrue Holiday scored a career-high 33 and had all 12 of his team's points in the extra period as the 76ers overcame a 19-point second-half deficit.

"Jrue was incredible and carried us in overtime," said forward Thaddeus Young, who added 27 points and 14 rebounds. "It was a gut-check type of performance and he was there for us when we needed it in overtime."

Holiday has scored 12.0 points per game while shooting 36.4 percent in his last three against the Spurs, but he's on a roll heading into this meeting. The fourth-year guard has averaged 30.7 points, 11.3 assists and 54.8 percent from the floor in his past three contests.

With Holiday leading the way, the 76ers have starting to show some life offensively. They've scored 104.7 points a game over this 2-1 stretch after averaging 84.2 during a five-game losing streak.

However, they may have a difficult time continuing that level of production against a San Antonio team that's given up an average of 87.8 points during its four-game win streak.

Duncan's double-double lifts Spurs past 76ers

By DAN GELSTON
Posted Jan 21 2013 11:07PM

PHILADELPHIA (AP) As the 76ers' lead grew, the fans got louder, the fourth quarter a bit more wild.

It didn't get unpredictable. At least, not to anyone on the Spurs.

Tim Duncan and Tony Parker have thrived in situations more uncomfortable than trailing on the road in the fourth against a sub-.500 team.

Duncan and Parker pushed back hard-charging Philadelphia late in the game to lead San Antonio to its fifth straight win, 90-85 over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night.

Duncan had his fifth double-double of the season with 24 points and 17 rebounds and Parker had 20 points. The Spurs blew a 17-point lead in the first half before rallying late in the fourth to win again without guard Manu Ginobili. Ginobili is still out with a strained left hamstring.

After the Sixers turned the 17-point hole into a seven-point lead, the Spurs got it together. Kawhi Leonard dunked off a turnover, then buried a 3 off a defensive board to tie it 88-all. Duncan's jumper made it 84-82 and Parker swished one the next time down.

"We called a couple of things down the stretch that Tony and Timmy have been running for over a decade now," coach Gregg Popovich said. "The balls, they went in."

For the Sixers, the balls went out: They missed nine of their final 10 shots and the Spurs closed the game on a 15-3 run.

"When you've been playing a long time, and you have a great coach, you know what to do," Parker said.

The Sixers seems lost. Evan Turner had 18 points and 12 rebounds, but the Sixers still lost for the seventh time in nine games. Andrew Bynum, out all season with knee injured knees, said before the game he remained on target to return around the All-Star break.

The Sixers could use him. Without their best player, they've slumped to seven games under .500.

Without Ginobili for the fourth straight game, the Spurs got clutch baskets down the stretch to win their NBA-high 15th road game.

After a miserable first half, the Sixers turned to Spencer Hawes and Nick Young off the bench to come back. The Sixers erased the early 17-point hole with three straight big baskets in the fourth.

Royal Ivey pulled them within two, Turner's 14-footer tied it at 73-all and Hawes put them ahead for the first time in the game with a 17-footer that made it 75-73.

Thaddeus Young's short jumper put the crowd of 15,346 on their feet and stirred up the "Defense!" chant for the first time all game.

Nick Young's 3-pointer and long jumper gave the Sixers a seven-point lead.

But then the sloppy play took hold. Easy missed shots. Turnovers. Duncan blocked Jrue Holiday's layup.

"We recognized there was time left in the game," Duncan said. "We had to tidy up on the defensive end and get some stops. We did just that."

Just like that, game over.

"We didn't finish them off," Thaddeus Young said. "We've just got to figure out a way to get past those kinds of teams. We're trying to make runs, we're trying to get wins, we're trying to get wins."

Led by Duncan, the Spurs took control of this one early and raced to a 17-point lead in the second quarter.

At last in the third, the Sixers came ready to play, showing the sharp shooting touch that abandoned them in the first half. Hawes, who scored 16, buried a 3 as part of an 8-0 run that sliced the gap down to four. Young, however, missed two free throws that would have inched the Sixers closer.

As they do, the Spurs took advantage of the missed opportunities from the line. Parker pushed them back with a jumper and Leonard's thunderous dunk quickly made it 61-49.

They just couldn't put away the Sixers that easily. Maybe the outcome would have been different with Bynum. They'll need him in their playoff push.

"We're very concerned," coach Doug Collins said.

Bynum, their big offseason acquisition, again expressed optimism he'd finally be ready to play around next month's All-Star game. Bynum has sat out the season because of bone bruises on both his knees. He practiced jump shots with the Sixers at the morning's shootaround and insisted he was pain free.

Bynum, a free agent at the end of the year, has no intention of rushing back. There's still plenty he has to work on before he's cleared.

"It's going to be defensive slides, cutting, running full speed and stopping, backpedaling, jumping," he said. "Explosive stuff."

Bynum wasn't the only reason the Sixers' locker room was buzzing before the game. Former great Charles Barkley - his retired No. 34 hangs in the rafters - called the game for TNT and was a pregame visitor. Barkley received a huge standing ovation when the Sixers aired a video tribute to him.

NOTES: The Spurs won for the 14th time in 17 games. ... The Spurs had averaged 98.0 points in their previous 10 road games. ... The Spurs were 19 of 26 from the free throw line; the 76ers 7 of 11.

Notebook: Spurs 90, Sixers 85

Andy Jasner, for NBA.com
Posted Mon Jan 21, 2013 10:44 PM - Updated Mon Jan 21, 2013 10:44 PM

THE FACTS: Tim Duncan had 24 points and 17 rebounds while Tony Parker scored 20 points and added eight assists in the San Antonio Spurs' 90-85 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers Monday night at the Wells Fargo Center. Kawhi Leonard scored 16 points and Tiago Splitter had a double-double consisting of 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Spurs, who improved to 33-11.

Evan Turner led the Sixers with 18 points and 12 rebounds while Spencer Hawes scored 16 points off the bench. Jrue Holiday had 15 points, Thaddeus Young contributed 14 and Nick Young had 12. The Sixers fell to 17-24 and 11-10 at home.

QUOTABLE: "Sometimes, basketball is funny. You just have to hang in there and hope the storm will stop. The storm lasted for a long time, but in the fourth quarter, we got it done. "

-- Tony Parker on letting a 17-point lead slip away and then rallying back

THE STAT: The Spurs improved to 14-0 this season when holding opponents below 90 points. Meanwhile, the Sixers are now 3-17 when scoring below 90.

TURNING POINT: Trailing 82-75 with 5:40 left, the Spurs began executing with precision, as Sixers coach Doug Collins discussed before the game. Suddenly, a seven-point deficit turned into an 88-83 lead with 20.2 seconds remaining following two free throws by Parker. While the Spurs were executing, the Sixers were fizzling. Too many turnovers and poor offensive flow hurt them down the stretch.

HOT: Duncan was 10-for-17 while Parker was 8-for-15.

NOT: Holiday missed 13 of his 20 shots while Dorell Wright was 1-for-5. For the Spurs, Stephen Jackson misfired on all six of his shots.

QUOTABLE II: "It's pretty amazing at his age what he does night after night."

-- Spurs coach Gregg Popovich on 36-year-old center Tim Duncan

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: Duncan had 24 points, 17 rebounds, five assists, two steals and one blocked shot. It was his fifth double-double this season and his second game with at least 24 points, 17 rebounds and five assists. Turner nearly reached a triple-double for the Sixers with 18 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists.

INSIDE THE ARENA: The Wells Fargo Center was electric throughout the game. When a video montage was shown featuring Sixers legend Charles Barkley, the crowd rose and gave him a standing ovation. Barkley was part of the TNT telecast for this game. Former Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski attended the game and received a nice ovation.

QUOTABLE III: "They've been together for so long and are so comfortable with each other. They don't ever seem rattled. They kept executing and did what they needed to do down the stretch to win."

-- Jrue Holiday

GOOD MOVE: Even when they let a 17-point lead slip away and fell behind by seven with 5:40 remaining, the Spurs never stopped running their offense or playing team defense. They stuck with the same game plan that originally pushed the lead to 17. In the end, it all paid off with a gritty road victory.

BAD MOVE: The Sixers' offense stalled when they built that seven-point advantage. They stopped moving the ball and playing aggressive defense. There was way too much one-on-one offense and it led to numerous empty possessions.

ROOKIE WATCH: Spurs guard Nando De Colo had two points, four assists and three rebounds in 13:30 off the bench. For the Sixers, forward Arnett Moultrie received a DNP-CD.

NOTABLE: Injured Sixers center Andrew Bynum met with reporters one hour before tip-off and said he still hopes to return somewhere around the All-Star break from Feb. 15-17. Bynum has been sidelined all season with bilateral bone bruises on both knees. Bynum said his knees "feel good" and he participated in shootaround Monday morning. ... Sixers guard Jason Richardson was out with left knee synovitis. ... The Spurs continued to play without guard Manu Ginobili, who is recovering from a Grade 1 left hamstring strain. ... Leonard left the game in the fourth quarter with a left knee injury. ... The Sixers committed 16 turnovers and have had at least 13 in eight of the last nine games. ... Over the past 14 games, Parker is averaging 21.5 points on 54.4 percent shooting. The Spurs are 11-3 during that span. ... San Antonio has won five straight against the Sixers. ... The Sixers haven't won consecutive games since a season-high tying three-game win streak from Nov. 25-30.

NEXT: For the Spurs, Wednesday vs. New Orleans, Friday @ Dallas, Saturday vs. Phoenix. For the Sixers, Tuesday @ Milwaukee, Saturday vs. New York, Monday vs. Memphis.

• Spurs: Ginobili
• 76ers: Bynum

• Spurs: --
• 76ers: --

• Lead Changes: 2
• Times Tied: 4

• Arena: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
• Officials: #24 Mike Callahan, #31 Scott Wall, #74 Curtis Blair
• Attendance: 15346
• Duration: 2:21