Spurs beat 76ers for fifth straight win
November 30, 2009
SAN ANTONIO (AP)—Tim Duncan(notes) scored 22 points and the San Antonio Spurs wontheir fifth straight with a 97-89 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sundaynight.
Tony Parker(notes) added 16 points and the Spurs extended their longest winningstreak since last December, when they climbed back up the standings after asimilar slow start last season.
Andre Iguodala(notes) had 21 points for the Sixers, who dropped their sixthstraight. But the skid is being overshadowed by speculation that Philadelphiamay bring Allen Iverson(notes) back to the city where he became an NBA star.
Philadelphia 76ers' Samuel… AP – Nov 29, 8:56 pm EST San Antonio Spurs' Tim Dun… AP – Nov 29, 8:56 pm EST
San Antonio Spurs' DeJuan … AP – Nov 29, 8:31 pm EST
San Antonio Spurs' DeJuan … AP – Nov 29, 8:31 pm EST YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index = 3; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_lazy_images = [http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091130/capt.4cd98ec51344431f9d4a6a3c3dc4412c.76ers_spurs_basketball_txda101.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=30&yc=1&wc=351&hc=390&q=70&sig=pSuFYF27iRrB7wMkWVdX6g--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091130/capt.e9ed377694e74fa7aef8c42d1b0c7ea7.76ers_spurs_basketball_txda102.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=23&yc=1&wc=365&hc=406&q=70&sig=8YVayqrfOmrgniLGNnQ3hg--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091130/capt.c2c85201e7e24443b31bbd2ea6a5b3b5.76ers_spurs_basketball_txda103.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=345&hc=383&q=70&sig=EzYl7r8vCgEEWsRXF_hjZA--]; YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(window,load,YAHOO.Sports.articleLazyLoadCarousel.init); 1 of 4 Phi-SA Gallery function prev_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index > 0) { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index – 1); } else { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index); }}function next_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index 0) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next); }*/}function goto_photo(p) { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { for(i = 0; i < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos.length; i++) { if (i == p) { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, ); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, none); } } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page) { YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page.innerHTML =(p + 1); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = p; } } update_buttons();}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init = function () { YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_prev, click, prev_photo); YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_next, click, next_photo); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = 0; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page = YAHOO.util.Dom.get(carousel_page); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos = YAHOO.util.Dom.getElementsByClassName(item, div, leadphoto); if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { goto_photo(0); }}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init();
Sixers coach Eddie Jordan acknowledged before the game that Iverson has beendiscussed, but emphasized that talks have been just that and nothing more.
Jordan also wanted the Sixers to focus on winning instead of the Iversonchatter, and despite the loss, Philadelphia hardly seemed distracted. The 76ersgot as close as five points late in the fourth before San Antonio pulled away.
Willie Green(notes) scored 17 points and Thaddeus Young(notes) had 16 for the Sixers, whoare off to a 5-12 start and have the third-worst record in the EasternConference.
A person with knowledge of the Iverson talks told The Associated Press onSaturday that the Sixers were approached about signing the recently retiredguard. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because talks have not beenmade public.
Iverson’s statement this week about ending his NBA career after 13-plusseasons hardly sounded like his mind was made up. Saying there is “a whole lotleft in my tank,” Iverson said he felt strongly he could still compete “at thehighest level.”
Iverson spent his first 10 years in Philadelphia and led the Sixers to theNBA finals in 2001. If the Sixers signed him, it wouldn’t be for nostalgia:injured starting point guard Lou Williams is expected to miss eight weeks, and19-year-old rookie Jrue Holiday(notes) is starting in his place.
Jordan said before the game that although Iverson has been discussed, theSixers still want to see if their depth can pull them out of their tailspin.
“I have not been oversaturated with Allen Iverson in my mind or inconversations with our front office,” Jordan said. “It’s like any other freeagent out there. We’ve talked about a number of people.”
Spurs guard Manu Ginobili(notes) played for the first time in six games because ofa strained left groin and came off the bench to score eight points in 17minutes. Matt Bonner(notes) had 16 points.
DeJuan Blair(notes) had 11 points and 10 rebounds, and made his most memorable markwith dazzling successive plays on both ends in the second quarter. It began withBlair, hopping below the basket, hitting a bank shot while falling down on hisback in the paint.
The 6-foot-7, 270-pound rookie then rumbled down court in time to spikeRoyal Ivey’s(notes) layup attempt into the second row, leading a wide-eyed Duncan tospring off the bench and prompting a standing ovation for the quickly emergingfan favorite.
The Spurs have been on a roll since a skid of three straight losses droppedthem to 4-6, their worst 10-game start in the Duncan era. But San Antonio hasbeen dominant since.
The schedule might be helping. Only one of San Antonio’s last five wins havecome against a team that entered Sunday with a winning record, but the Spurs areabout to be tested. San Antonio will play Atlantic division leaders Boston onThursday and Denver on Saturday.
NOTES: Sixers F Elton Brand(notes) missed his third consecutive game with a soreright hamstring. Jordan said Brand could still wind up playing the final threegames of this four-game road swing for Philadelphia.