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 The San Antonio Spurs, missing their top four players, handed the
New York Knicks a 10th consecutive defeat Wednesday, 109-95.
Spurs guard Tony Parker missed his third straight game with a
hamstring injury. Forward Kawhi Leonard was out after sustaining a
hand injury Tuesday in game at Utah. Forward Tim Duncan, 38, and
guard Manu Ginobili, 37, were given the night off to rest by coach
Gregg Popovich, who recently called San Antonio's December schedule
crowded with seven back-to-backs -- the first started on Nov. 30 --
"ridiculous."
New York (4-20) was short-handed as well. Forward Carmelo Anthony
sat out with a sore left knee, and reserve guard J.R. Smith missed
the game with a sore left heel.
San Antonio (16-6) dismissed the Knicks with a 16-0 push in the
third quarter that increased its lead to 25 points.
Reserve guard Marco Belinelli led the Spurs with 22 points.
Belinelli made three of the Spurs' six 3-point baskets in the third
quarter, when they outscored New York 38-21.
"I just thought the Spurs came out and played at a high level in the
third quarter that we couldn't match," Knicks coach Derek Fisher
said. "We had a few minutes where it got away from us and the Spurs
capitalized on it."
Guard Danny Green scored 13 for the Spurs, and forward Boris Diaw
had 12. Other Spurs received rare substantial playing time. Rookie
Kyle Anderson started in place of Leonard, played 23 minutes, and
converted four of five shots. Forward Jeff Ayres played 19 minutes,
made all five of his shots, and led the Spurs with six rebounds.
Forward Austin Daye worked 21 minutes and hit a pair of 3-pointers
in the first half.
"I haven't been this pleased in a while," Popovich said. "Guys who
haven't played are gonna try hard. After a night like we had last
night (a loss at Utah) it was good for them to basically show the
starters how you have to bring it, both execution wise and
competitively. It was a good win. I want them to enjoy it."
Guard Tim Hardaway Jr. led the Knicks with 23 points. Center Jason
Smith scored 14.
The Spurs did receive some good news Wednesday. Center Tiago
Splitter was cleared to play after missing 20 of the team's first 21
games due to a calf injury. He entered in the third quarter after
Aron Baynes, the starter at center Wednesday, picked up his fourth
foul. Splitter played eight minutes and scored three points.
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San Antonio took a 56-52 halftime lead with its makeshift lineup,
somehow managing to commit just one turnover while shooting 46.5
percent. Daye, normally third string, played 13 minutes in the half
and made a pair of 3-point baskets.
The Knicks shot 57 percent in the half, easily maneuvering inside
for 22 points in the paint.
For the game, the Spurs shot 50.7 percent and the Knicks hit 48.7
percent.
Forward Matt Bonner, a part-time starter recently with Splitter out,
said the Spurs had to summon a cohesive effort with their most
talented players missing.
"We all understood that if we wanted to get a good shot we had to
move the ball," said Bonner, who scored 10 points. "We couldn't hold
the ball. We had to share it, move it, push the pace."
The Spurs are often praised by opponents for a system that
encourages and demands teamwork. Point guard Cory Joseph, Parker's
replacement, said that approach helps on a night like Wednesday.
"We have a pretty good system," said Joseph, who produced nine
points and six assists. "I play with these guys every day. The
lineup may be a little different but we practice together. I know
what guys are gonna do."
NOTES: San Antonio Spurs F Kawhi Leonard (bruised right hand) will
have an MRI exam Thursday to determine the extent of the injury,
coach Gregg Popovich said. ... Spurs G Tony Parker missed his third
straight game with a mild left hamstring strain. "I don't expect him
to miss too much more," Popovich said. ... Knicks forward Carmelo
Anthony sat out because of a sore left knee that has bothered him
for a while. "It's not getting any worse. It's not getting any
better," Anthony told reporters Tuesday in New Orleans, where the
Knicks lost to the Pelicans.
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