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Duncan, Spurs coast past undermanned Kings

Nov 3, 2007 - 4:58 AM By Brian Guerra PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) - Playing their third game in four nights did little to slow down the San Antonio Spurs - one of the oldest teams in the NBA.

Tim Duncan and Tony Parker led the way as the Spurs posted an effortless, 96-80, victory over the Sacramento Kings on Friday night at the AT&T Center.

Duncan registered his second double-double this season with 15 points and 10 rebounds and Parker also poured in 15 points to help the defending champions remain undefeated at 3-0.

San Antonio took control of the game early behind an impressive 11-2 surge, which set the tone for the remainder of the evening.

"Who wouldn't be frustrated?" Kings center Brad Miller said. "Down 20 points or so at the end of the first half wasn't good. We just weren't scoring very well."

Duncan nor Parker played in the fourth quarter due to the huge first-half advantage San Antonio created, outscoring Sacramento, 50-23. The Kings shot just 19 percent (7-of-36) at the break.

"Under 20 percent from the field is not easy to do," said Spurs swingman Manu Ginobili, who scored 10 points. "I think there are two main reasons. One, we had a good defensive game, and they kind of struggled. So, it's not that we were just amazing defensively. They had a tough night, too."

Already with a 12-point edge in the second, Parker and Duncan combined for eight straight points to extend the lead to 34-14 with 6:54 remaining.

Kevin Martin scored 22 points and John Salmons added 14 and nine boards for the Kings, whose offense continues to stumble without the 1-2 punch of Mike Bibby and Ron Artest.

"It's always a task with a game like that where the two best players on your opponent's team aren't there," San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. "It's good to see that the guy kept their focus and played well."

Bibby is sidelined for the next two months after having surgery on a torn ligament in his left thumb, while the troublesome Artest is serving the second of a seven-game suspension.