ElNono
11-11-2012, 12:46 PM
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Gary Neal had 27 points, Manu Ginobili hit two big free throws in the final seconds and the San Antonio Spurs edged the Portland Trail Blazers 112-109 on Saturday night.
The Blazers hit four straight 3-pointers to tie it at 109 with 40.5 seconds left, but Portland stumbled from there and was saddled with its third consecutive loss. Nicolas Batum had a career-high 33 points.
Tim Duncan added 22 points and nine rebounds for the Spurs, who snapped a seven-game losing streak at the Rose Garden.
San Antonio played without Tony Parker because of a flu bug that has been making its way around the team. Patty Mills started in his place.
The Spurs trailed by as many as 14 points in the third quarter but opened the final period with a 14-0 run to go up 87-79.
Rookie Damian Lillard and Batum each hit a 3-pointer to trim Portland's deficit to 105-103 with 1:57 to go. Duncan dunked before Wesley Matthews made a 3-pointer to get the Blazers within one with 1:28 left.
Duncan made a layup, but Batum answered with another 3. Ginobili made a pair of foul shots with 12.9 seconds left to get the lead back to the Spurs, and Stephen Jackson went 1 for 2 at the line with 4.4 seconds to go.
Portland star LaMarcus Aldridge missed a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer.
http://www.wkrn.com/story/20064729/spurs-hold-off-blazers-112-109
The Blazers hit four straight 3-pointers to tie it at 109 with 40.5 seconds left, but Portland stumbled from there and was saddled with its third consecutive loss. Nicolas Batum had a career-high 33 points.
Tim Duncan added 22 points and nine rebounds for the Spurs, who snapped a seven-game losing streak at the Rose Garden.
San Antonio played without Tony Parker because of a flu bug that has been making its way around the team. Patty Mills started in his place.
The Spurs trailed by as many as 14 points in the third quarter but opened the final period with a 14-0 run to go up 87-79.
Rookie Damian Lillard and Batum each hit a 3-pointer to trim Portland's deficit to 105-103 with 1:57 to go. Duncan dunked before Wesley Matthews made a 3-pointer to get the Blazers within one with 1:28 left.
Duncan made a layup, but Batum answered with another 3. Ginobili made a pair of foul shots with 12.9 seconds left to get the lead back to the Spurs, and Stephen Jackson went 1 for 2 at the line with 4.4 seconds to go.
Portland star LaMarcus Aldridge missed a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer.
http://www.wkrn.com/story/20064729/spurs-hold-off-blazers-112-109