Duncan leads Spurs past Warriors, 104-93

[March 21, 2013]  SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Tim Duncan had 25 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and four blocks and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Golden State Warriors 104-93 Wednesday night.

Tiago Splitter added 17 points, Manu Ginobili had 16 points and seven assists and fellow reserve Nando De Colo had 10 points for San Antonio (52-16), which is second to Miami (53-14) for the league's best record.

Stephen Curry had 24 points for Golden State (39-31), which remains sixth in the West. Harrison Barnes added 13 points, Jarrett Jack had 14 points, David Lee added 10 points and 12 rebounds.

Golden State pulled within 92-87 as Curry hit 1 of 2 free throws, but Duncan threw in a running hook and a jumper to give San Antonio a 96-88 lead with 2:37 remaining.

Duncan was 11-for-17 from the field and 3-for-3 on free throws. It was his 13th game of at least 20 points and 10 rebounds this season.

Kawhi Leonard made his first three shots as the Spurs took a 14-8 lead to open the game. It would turn out to be the second-year forward's only points until his 3 with 56.4 seconds remaining gave the Spurs a 104-91 lead.

Golden State (first) and San Antonio (fourth) are both among the top five in 3-point percentage, but neither team made a 3 until Ginobili knocked down his second attempt with 10:30 left in the first half.

It was part of a greater emphasis on defense by the Spurs.

San Antonio held Golden State to 49 percent shooting in the first half while forcing nine turnovers and blocking five shots.

De Colo gave the Spurs a 43-32 lead when he stripped Jack at midcourt and sprinted to the basket for a dunk, prompting Duncan to leap from his seat and shout "atta boy."

San Antonio outscored Golden State 38-25 in the second quarter, going 6 for 11 on 3s after missing all four attempts in the opening period. Matt Bonner and Danny Green hit back-to-back 3s late in the second quarter as San Antonio took a 60-47 lead at the half.

Golden State opened the second half on a 13-8 run to pull within 68-60 with minutes left in the third.

NOTES: Spurs G Tony Parker participated fully in San Antonio's practice Tuesday, but coach Gregg Popovich said he was still about a week away from rejoining the team. ... All but three of San Antonio's 14 remaining games are against teams with a winning record. The schedule includes 10 games against teams that would be in the playoffs if the season ended Wednesday and another against Utah, which was a game behind the Los Angeles Lakers for the West's eighth and final playoff spot entering Wednesday. ... Warriors F Richard Jefferson, who played two seasons with the Spurs, was booed when he entered the game late in the first quarter.

[Associated Press]

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