Spurs halt Suns’ winning streak at 5
February 28, 2010
SAN ANTONIO (AP)—Richard Jefferson(notes) scored 20 points in his best game sincelosing his starting job, and the San Antonio Spurs beat Phoenix 113-110 onSunday to end the Suns’ five-game winning streak.
Amare Stoudemire had a season-high 41 points and 12 rebounds for Phoenix,but Jefferson and the Spurs hung on late to hand the Suns only their second losssince the All-Star break.
Phoenix also had an embarrassing hand in its demise.
Jason Richardson(notes) could’ve tied the game with about 40 seconds left but blewan uncontested dunk on a fast break. With no one in front of him, Richardson’sone-handed slam ricocheted off the rim, while his teammates watched indisbelief.
San Antonio Spurs' Tim Dun… AP – Feb 28, 2:23 pm EST Phoenix Suns' Amar'e S… AP – Feb 28, 2:22 pm EST YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index = 1; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_lazy_images = [http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100228/capt.6f1751e48bbe471abb6ebda05c416be7.suns_spurs_basketball_txda102.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=66&yc=1&wc=279&hc=310&q=70&sig=tQcnCOyLg828OZ70uSuz9w--]; YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(window,load,YAHOO.Sports.articleLazyLoadCarousel.init); 1 of 2 Pho-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();
Tim Duncan(notes) had 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Spurs. Manu Ginobili(notes) alsoscored 21, including 11 points in the fourth quarter.
Against the NBA’s top-scoring team, the Spurs gutted out only their secondwin in their last five games. Phoenix came in as one of the hottest teams in theleague, having won 11 of its previous 13.
The Suns certainly had their chances to extend that streak.
Stoudemire had 14 points in the fourth and Richardson half of his 20 pointsin the quarter, missing only one shot in the fourth—but it was a big one.
His blown dunk turned out to be Phoenix’s best chance to tie the game. SteveNash(notes) heaved a long 3-pointer with 4.6 seconds left to get Phoenix within one,and the Suns had one more shot left after Ginobili sank two free throws.
But needing to go the length of floor with 3.2 seconds left, Nash passed upa 3-pointer and instead passed to Channing Frye(notes) as the clock expired.
Nash had 18 points and 11 assists. Stoudemire was 15 of 28 from the floorand eclipsed 30 points for the fifth time in the past 13 games.
Tony Parker(notes), returning to the San Antonio lineup after missing Friday’s lossat Houston because of an illness, scored 16 points. Reserve DeJuan Blair(notes) added14 points.
But no reserve was bigger for the Spurs than Jefferson. Demoted to the benchtwo weeks ago after not meeting expectations as a high-priced starter, Jeffersoneclipsed 20 points for the first time in two months.
He came in off the bench for the fifth time in six games, a role the careerstarter appears likely to keep the rest of the season. Spurs coach GreggPopovich said before the game that Jefferson has better “focus” in his reserverole while sidestepping his disappointment as a starter.
Jefferson’s 20 points were the most since he had 24 in a win over Milwaukeeon Dec. 29. He was 7-of-11 from the field and hit two 3-pointers.
Frye added 11 for the Suns.
NOTES: The Spurs will see plenty of Suns-caliber opponents the rest of theway. Sixteen of their remaining 26 games are against teams with winning records.…Spurs F Antonio McDyess(notes) had 12 points and nine rebounds, and returned to thegame after being helped to the locker room in the third quarter with ahyperextended left knee.