Ginobili Has 28; Spurs Win 11th in a Row

[March 07, 2008]  SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Manu Ginobili scored 28 points to help the San Antonio Spurs beat the Indiana Pacers 108-97 Thursday night for their 11th straight win.

Tony Parker added 19 points in the game, which wasn't close after halftime and saw Spurs coach Gregg Popovich get ejected in the second quarter. Tim Duncan had 12 rebounds and six points on 3-of-11 shooting.

Danny Granger led Indiana, which has lost two straight, with 22 points. Mike Dunleavy and Troy Murphy each added 13 points.

The win keeps the defending NBA champions atop the tight Western Conference and just percentage points ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Indiana is sitting a couple of spots out of playoff contention.

The Spurs, who were tied with Indiana at 27 after one quarter and led 50-48 at halftime, took control in the third quarter, keeping a defensive focus but also turning up the offense.

They went on a 14-4 run to open the period and ended up outscoring Indiana 34-21 in the third. Parker's 3-pointer gave San Antonio a 64-52 advantage with 8:02 left in the period. Bruce Bowen's back-to-back 3s put them up 74-59 with 3:49 to play, and the Spurs led by as many as 16.

Ginobili scored the Spurs' first five points in the last quarter and the Spurs led by as many as 23. Indiana never got within single digits.

Flip Murray and Travis Diener had 11 points apiece for Indiana.

Matt Bonner scored 15 for San Antonio, and Michael Finley had 12.

The game was testy throughout, beginning with Popovich's ejection with 5:39 left in the first half.

Popovich, apparently upset about a non-call against the Pacers, was tossed after he left the bench area while yelling at referee Mark Wunderlich. One of Popovich's assistant coaches, Don Newman, grabbed him and pulled him away. Assistant coach Mike Budenholzer took over.

With 1:23 left in the third, Pacers coach Jim O'Brien got a technical for jawing with officials, and in the fourth fans booed Murphy, who fouled out when he pulled Ime Udoka to the ground on a drive to the basket. Udoka got two foul shots and the Spurs got the ball.

And with less than 30 seconds to go and Indiana's fate sealed, the Pacers' David Harrison got a technical foul.

Notes: The Spurs' jerseys read "Los Spurs" in honor of Noche Latina at the AT&T Center. ... Pacers F-C Jermaine O'Neal and G Jamaal Tinsley were still out, both with left knee injuries. ... Thursday's game was the first of a back-to-back for San Antonio. The team has another back-to-back starting Sunday in Phoenix. ... The Spurs had 22 turnovers, but outrebounded Indiana 47-35. Both teams shot 48 percent from the field.

[Associated Press; By ELIZABETH WHITE]

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