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Parker, Spurs push winning streak to 13 games

Mar 14, 2007 - 5:28 AM SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) -- Tony Parker and the San Antonio Spurs continue to roll, while the Los Angeles Clippers are going in the another direction.

Parker scored 25 points and Tim Duncan chipped in 19 and nine rebounds as the Spurs won their season-high 13th straight game, a 93-84 triumph over the slumping Clippers.

San Antonio matched its longest winning streak since rolling off 13 straight wins from December 5-28 during the 2003-04 season, which ended with a trip to the NBA Finals against Detroit.

"It wasn't the greatest game but we came out with the win," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "Winning is always more fun than losing."

Despite the loss, the Clippers (29-34) still hold an one-half game lead over idle Golden State (30-36) for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference standings.

"We are still in the eighth spot," Los Angeles forward Elton Brand said. "We just need to start winning. "If we continue to play like this, especially on the road, we'll start doing just that."

The Spurs (46-18) are also looking to move up the conference standings, trailing second-place Phoenix (49-14) by 3 1/2 games.

A two-time All-Star, Parker poured in six points during a 10-4 surge to end the second quarter as the Spurs grabbed a 50-40 advantage at intermission.

"(Parker's) tough inside," Brand said. "Statistically he's right up there with (Shaquille O'Neal) in field goals made in the paint."

Popovich has been pleased with the recent play of veteran swingman Michael Finley, who is averaging close to 10 points off the bench during the streak.

"He's playing with confidence," Popovich said. "He's not trying to over think. He's a competitor and doing what he does best. He was great in the playoffs last year and he'll be great for us this year."

"Well I mean its March. It's about time," Finley said. "Not putting pressure on myself to make every shot and trying to play the perfect game, but just going out there and trying to do whatever it takes for the team to be better."

Los Angeles closed within 62-57, but San Antonio responded right back with a 9-2 run to push its lead to 12 points at the 1:30 mark in the third period.

Corey Maggette scored 17 points and Brand had 16 and 10 rebounds for the Clippers, who have dropped four straight games and fell to 1-5 this month.