Wednesday, February 20, 2013
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Parker's double-double leads Spurs past Kings

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[February 20, 2013]  SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Tony Parker had 30 points and 11 assists to lead San Antonio to a 108-102 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night, giving the Spurs their 15th win in their last 16 games.

Danny Green scored 21 points, including 5-for-8 shooting on 3-pointers, for the Spurs, who have the top overall record in the NBA (43-12) as well as the best road mark (21-10). Kawhi Leonard added 15 points and Manu Ginobili 12 as San Antonio won at Sacramento for the 10 straight time.

Brois Diaw had 10 points and Tim Duncan added nine points and 14 rebounds for the Spurs.

Isaiah Thomas scored 22 points for the Kings, who have dropped three straight. Tyreke Evans had 20 points, Marcus Thornton added 16, and Jason Thompson and DeMarcus Cousins had 11 each.

The Spurs came out strong in the opening quarter, showing no effects of the layoff during the All-Star break. They established a double-digit lead on numerous occasions in winning their third straight.

Thornton made back-to-back 3s and followed with a fast-break layup, pulling the Kings to 103-100 with 55.9 seconds to go. However, Parker drove the lane for a layup with 19.7 seconds remaining and Ginobili made a free throw 8 seconds later to put the Spurs up by six points.

San Antonio has four games remaining on its season-high nine-game road trip then it will play 17 of its final 24 at home. They return after playing Sunday in Phoenix.

The most intriguing aspect regarding the underperforming Kings this season is off the court, where the uncertainty of the team's future lingers.

Mayor Kevin Johnson is trying to prevent the Kings from moving to Seattle and wants to put together a financial plan by late next week. Whether the Kings remain in Sacramento will likely be determined during the NBA's owners meeting April 17-18.

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A Seattle-based group of investors, headed by hedge fund manager Chris Hansen and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, has already reached an agreement with the Maloof family to buy 65 percent of the franchise.

On Tuesday night, the Sacramento City Council voted to lend its support to keeping the Kings in town and helping to build a new downtown arena.

A pair of jumpers by Thompson pulled the Kings to within 85-81 early in the fourth. But Green quickly hit a 3 and Parker added consecutive baskets, giving the Spurs a 92-91 advantage.

Parker continued to penetrate the Kings' defense in the third quarter when he scored nine points. Green was also effective, making two 3-pointers and scoring eight points to help San Antonio take an 83-74 lead into the fourth.

The Kings got going offensively in the third quarter after shooting just over 28 percent in the first half. Both Evans and Cousins scored nine points and Thomas had eight.

Parker had 13 points and six assists and Leonard had 12 points in the opening half for the Spurs, who led 50-41 at halftime. Thomas scored 10 of his 14 first-half points in the opening quarter.

NOTES: Kings missed 18 of 22 shots in the first quarter and trailed 28-19. ... Stephen Jackson was not with the Kings for personal reasons. ... Cousins and Evans, the Kings' top two scorers, shot a combined 1 for 9 and had five points in the first half. ... The Kings play the next five games on the road where they are 5-23 this season. The trip concludes March 1 game at San Antonio.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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