The way Spurs coach Gregg Popovich saw it, Tony Parker could have been conducting a symphony.
Parker had 24 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, and San Antonio matched a franchise record with 16 three-pointers in a 107-97 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Saturday night.
``Tony orchestrated a wonderful game for us,'' Popovich said. ``It's tough for a point guard between scoring and getting others involved. He made great decisions and spearheaded the win for us.''
Parker was 11-of-19 from the field to help the Spurs (16-10) avoid losing three straight for the first time since they opened the season 0-3.
Tim Duncan scored 19 points, and Roger Mason had 16 on 4-of-6 three-point shooting.
Michael Finley added 14 points on 4-of-8 three-point shooting.
Combined, Matt Bonner, Finley and Mason all starters shot 12-of-21 from three-point territory.
``I think the night started with Tony Parker,'' Mason said. ``Tony was able to share the ball early and the entire team was able to play unselfish basketball and take the open shot.''
The Raptors have lost five straight for the second time this season to drop to 10-17. They are 2-10 in their last 12
Toronto was 4-of-12 on three-pointers. The Spurs also outrebounded Toronto 58-42 and finished with an 18-9 points-in-the-paint advantage.
``It's tough to beat a team like that,'' Raptors coach Jay Triano said. ``We forced the ball to the perimeter and they made the shots. Pretty awesome display of shooting.''
Jermaine O'Neal led the Raptors with 24 points despite a sore left shoulder. He was 12-of-20 from the floor and had 10 rebounds.
``I'm a little sore, but you just have to fight through it,'' said O'Neal, who played 15 minutes before getting hurt Friday night in a loss at Oklahoma City. ``I expected this coming in.''
Parker, 3-of-17 from the field Thursday night in the Spurs' loss in Orlando, hit a jumper just inside the three-point line that gave the Spurs a 10-point lead with six minutes left in the third quarter.
``We had a very tough night against Orlando,'' Parker said, ``so I was anxious to get back home and back on the court. I had trouble sleeping after that loss.''
Toronto's Jose Calderon hit a three-pointer and Joey Graham converted a three-point play to make it 73-69 with 3:19 left in the third.
But the Spurs answered with their own three-point plays. Duncan scored on a layup on an assist from Parker and made the free throw after the foul. And Bonner knocked down a three-pointer, followed by a 20-footer from Parker, that gave San Antonio an 81-71 lead with 2:14 to go in the third.
``Those guys just really seemed to make a lot of threes,'' O'Neal said. ``Every time we would stop them it seemed like they would come back on the next possession with a three.
``And (Parker) can turn those corners so quick and hurt you in so many ways. When we didn't score, they did, and it mostly was threes.''
Toronto made it a five-point game when Jason Kapono hit a three-pointer with less than three minutes left in the game. But Duncan scored consecutive baskets to give the Spurs a 105-95 lead with 1:22 remaining.
``They rest him wisely, use him wisely, and when they need a bucket they know where to go,'' Triano said. ``He's a guy that has delivered for them in the past for them and tonight he made tough buckets, too.''
Notes: Spurs C Fabricio Oberto did not dress for the second straight game due to a sore left foot. Oberto has played 41 seconds the last four games. ... Toronto's Chris Bosh entered the game shooting 22-of-70 his last four games, and he started 1-for-7 Saturday night before ending with 6-of-14 shooting. ... The Spurs had to use a replacement public-address announcer after Kevin Brock was taken to a hospital when he injured both knees playing basketball at the arena before the game.
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LAKERS!!
calibudoowwee13 10 months ago
LAKERS!!!
calibudoowwee13 10 months ago
Bargnani is a 7-footer who's inconsistent on offense, and weak on defense. He's blocking more shots, but his rebounding hasn't improved much since he came into the league...trade him!
BlackJays 3 years ago
no matter how bad their playing,i still believe that this team will make a huge turn around and improve, personally i think it was a mistake geting rid of both Rasho & Tj ford and losing delfino didn't make it any better for us.. this team will get better just a matter of time on WHEN it will happen....
Ouchieforlifebabii 3 years ago
raps just suck overall. I used to be a raps fan back in the day when they had VC and Tmac and all the other good players we just gave away (Camby, damon stoudamire), but they just suck balls now.
Copywrite123 3 years ago
I know most fans wanted Jose over TJ, but TJ has better quickness, and better scoring ability. The last 2 seasons, I remember TJ would literally take over the 4th quarter, and the Raps would win most of the time. Now they give up the lead in the 4th Q almost every game. We need to trade that waste of talent (Bargnani) and another player, for a solid backup point guard and an experienced wingman (but Joey looks like a good fit).
BlackJays 3 years ago
Well, at least they didn't get blown out in this game, or lose a 15-point lead for that matter. I knew the game would be close, because the Raps beat the Spurs on the road last year, but this year they're missing TJ Ford.
BlackJays 3 years ago