Parker Lifts Spurs Past Kings 101-98

[April 15, 2008]  SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Tony Parker tied his season high with 32 points and added 11 assists as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Sacramento Kings 101-98 on Monday night.

The victory, coupled with Houston's loss to Utah, put the Spurs in position to clinch third place in the conference for a second straight season. A year ago, they defeated Cleveland in the NBA finals.

Trailing by four points in the closing minute, John Salmons scored inside and was hacked by Tim Duncan, who fouled out. Salmons made the free throw, pulling the Kings to 99-98 with 14.3 seconds left.

Then Michael Finley made two free throws with 11.8 seconds left. Looking to send the game into overtime, both Francisco Garcia and Quincy Douby missed 3-point attempts and San Antonio held on.

Playing only 24 minutes due to foul trouble, Duncan had 17 points for the Spurs. Finley scored 19 points and Fabricio Oberto had 17.

Salmons led the Kings with 29 points, Spencer Hawes had 17, Beno Udrih scored 16 and Garcia added 15.

Trailing since late in the second quarter, the Kings ran off 11 straight points for a 93-87 lead with 6:04 remaining. It was Douby, a backup, who provided the spark, making a jumper, a 3-point basket and finding Garcia open for a fast-break dunk.

San Antonio, which has won 50 or more games the past nine years, has the current longest playoff streak with 11 straight appearances. The Spurs will be trying to win their fifth NBA championship in 10 seasons.

Despite the victory, it has not been a smooth couple of weeks for the Spurs, who lost games by margins of 17, 21 and 26 points.

Coach Gregg Popovich went to his bench frequently, starting in the opening quarter when four reserves were on the court within the game's opening 8 minutes. The Spurs' leading scorer, Manu Ginobili, missed his third straight game with a strained left groin. 

The Kings played without injured Kevin Martin and Ron Artest, their two leading scorers. Starting center Brad Miller also did not play.

Duncan made all five shots in the first quarter, when the Spurs shot 74 percent and led 36-26. Duncan scored 14 points and Oberto had 13 for the Spurs, who led 56-51 at the half. Salmons scored 16 points for the Kings through two quarters.

Notes: Louisville coach Rick Pitino was sitting courtside. Kings coach Reggie Theus was an assistant under Pitino for two years and Garcia played three seasons with the Cardinals. Martin has been awarded the Kings' Oscar Robertson Triple-Double Award, which judges players for their achievements on and off the court. Traded to Seattle in February and promptly waived, Brent Barry played his first game with the Spurs since being signed on March 24. Barry has been sidelined with injuries throughout the season and has played only 30 games. He played 4 minutes in the second quarter, missed three 3-point attempts and was scoreless. ... The Kings, who have made a habit of beating playoff-bound teams over the past month, finish the season Tuesday night at the Lakers.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.