Spurs Team Report (March 26)

Gregg Popovich knows Don Nelson, having assisted the Warriors coach during Nelson’s first stint with Golden State. So when the Warriors rebounded San Antonio’s missed free throw with 5.5 seconds left down one point Tuesday, the Spurs were ready.

“We knew they weren’t going to call timeout,” forward Ime Udoka said. “I don’t know if somebody overheard them, or what, but we knew and we had our matchups down.”

Popovich and Nelson are both anti-timeout in that situation, instead preferring to catch the defense before it gets set. The problem for Golden State: the Spurs were plenty set and pressured Warriors guard Monta Ellis in the backcourt. Ellis spent most of the clock just getting out of the backcourt before heaving a 30-footer while being defending by Tony Parker and Bruce Bowen.

“We knew they weren’t going to call timeout,” forward Ime Udoka said. “I don’t know if somebody overheard them, or what, but we knew and we had our matchups down.”

“He’s the type of player who tries to make you use your body,” Parker said, “so I just wanted to make sure I stayed in front of him without fouling.”

Spurs 102, Hawks 92: One-man gang Tony Parker exploded for 42 points and San Antonio ran its winning streak to two with Wednesday night’s solid win at Eastern Conference playoff qualifier Atlanta. The Spurs (47-24) are leading the Southwest Division again and sit second in the West.

The game went into the fourth tied before San Antonio opened the fourth with a 6-0 run, with four points coming from the red-hot Parker. The Spurs would never trail again, and extended their lead in the Southwest to a full game over Houston.

Roger Mason had 18 points for San Antonio, with Michael Finley adding 13. Tim Duncan was given the game off in the second night of a back-to-back. Joe Johnson led the Hawks with 30 points.

Notes, Quotes

• In an effort to get F Tim Duncan’s aching knees some rest, he didn’t play Wednesday at Atlanta and sat for all but four-and-a-half minutes of Tuesday’s first half with Golden State. Duncan was needed after the break because the game was close, and finished with 21 points and 10 boards. It was his second straight game with at least 20 points after going more than a month without breaking 19.

“Having Tim back on the floor is great, to go through him on offense is good,” Gregg Popovich said. “He is like a quarterback on the floor the way he can see the court and scores as well. He played limited minutes in the first half by design.”

• After a pair of hard-to-swallow losses to Boston and Houston at home, the Spurs rebounded by nipping Golden State. The one-point victory was more difficult than expected, but it beat the alternative.

“Well, it’s a win,” Gregg Popovich said. “It has obviously been a rough patch recently, but (Tuesday) we were able to sustain offensively. Golden State is a very high-scoring team.

“Down the stretch we played good, better than the Houston game. There were very few errors on defense and we fortunately we ended up with the win.”

Quote To Note: “In San Antonio there are high expectations. Nobody cares if Manu is out for 30 games and Timmy is in and out. They want to see us in the top and that’s what we’re trying to do.”—G Tony Parker, after scoring 42 in Wednesday’s win at Atlanta.

Roster Report

Rotation: Starters—Point guard Tony Parker, Shooting guard Roger Mason, Small forward Michael Finley, Power forward Drew Gooden, Center Matt Bonner. Bench—Forward Kurt Thomas, Forward Ime Udoka, Forward Bruce Bowen, Center Fabricio Oberto, Forward Kurt Thomas.

Player Notes:

• G Roger Mason added to his game-winning shot collection against Golden State, even if it wasn’t as dramatic as before. Mason nailed a jumper with 23.9 seconds that proved to be the difference in the 107-106 victory Tuesday.

“Out of the timeout, coach (Gregg Popovich) drew up the play for Tony (Parker) and the other option was myself,” Mason said. “Tim (Duncan) came off and got me a good screen and I got some separation, and I was able to knock it down.”

• F Kurt Thomas had seven rebounds in Tuesday’s win over Golden State, including one with less than six seconds left after Warriors G Monta Ellis missed a jumper. Thomas promptly missed two free throws at the other end to give Golden State a glimmer of hope.

“I was just out there playing and just doing what I can to help the team get a win,” he said. “We were fortunate enough that we got a stop and I was able to get a rebound, but the unfortunate thing was that I blew two free throws on the other end. But we were able to come down and get a stop.”

• C Drew Gooden made his first Spurs start Wednesday at Atlanta. He had nine points and four rebounds subbing for Tim Duncan, who took the night off. The last time Duncan didn’t play, Gregg Popovich elected to start Kurt Thomas.

• G Manu Ginobili returned to the lineup in a limited role Wednesday after missing 19 games with a right ankle/leg injury. The team’s usual sixth man had two points in 13 minutes.

Medical Watch:

• C Ian Mahinmi (ankle surgery) is inactive. He had surgery Jan. 30 and was expected to miss 6-10 weeks.

– story courtesy yahoo! sports

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