Spurs beat Mavericks without injured Parker

[March 24, 2012]  SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Manu Ginobili had 11 points and seven assists while starting in place of an injured Tony Parker, leading the San Antonio Spurs to a 104-87 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night.

Danny Green added 18 points, Tim Duncan 15 and Matt Bonner 12 for the Spurs, who have the second-best record in the Western Conference at 31-14.

It was the fourth and final meeting of the season between the in-state rivals in the lockout-shortened schedule. All the victories came on each team's home court.

Parker, who missed his third game of the season, sat out with a strained right quadriceps. His absence didn't seem to distract the Spurs, who had seven assists in the first quarter alone and finished with 28 total.

San Antonio led 24-21 after one and maintained its advantage throughout the game with the exception of a two-minute spurt by Dallas.

Jason Terry's 18-foot jumper with five minutes remaining in the third quarter gave the Mavericks a 60-58 advantage, their first lead since 4-2 two minutes into the game. The Spurs responded quickly, however, closing the quarter on a 12-3 run to gain a decisive advantage.

Terry led the Mavericks with 18 points, Dirk Nowitzki had 16, Jason Kidd scored 14 and Shawn Marion had 13.

Both sides displayed the raw intensity that has defined their rivalry.

Terry taunted the crowd by "gliding" like a jet after an early 3-pointer and was jawing with fans at courtside during the second half.

Terry's intensity was matched by the Spurs' Stephen Jackson, who was jawing with several Mavericks after Duncan was knocked down.

Duncan went down three times in the first half, jamming his neck after running into Ian Mahinmi's chest and falling over some photographers after saving a ball. Duncan also went down in the second quarter when Brian Cardinal attempted to swipe the ball and instead raked Duncan's right eye. The normally mild-mannered Duncan drove the lane and dunked on the ensuing play, staring at Cardinal with a discontented look.

Boris Diaw, who signed with the Spurs earlier in the day, played 16 minutes. Diaw only had two points, but helped defend Nowitzki. Nowitzki did not have any rebounds through the first three quarters and finished with only two.

Diaw's arrival helped offset the loss of Tiago Splitter, who sat out the game with mid-back spasms.

[Associated Press]

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