Final
Spurs bring NBA's best record to Philly
Feb 11, 2011 - 4:17 PM (Sports Network) - San Antonio's "Rodeo Road Trip" will continue in the City of Brotherly Love tonight, where the NBA-best Spurs take on the Philadelphia 76ers from Wells Fargo Center.The Spurs have won four in a row and seven of eight games overall, and improved to 4-1 on their 17-day, nine-game trek with a 111-100 triumph in Toronto on Wednesday night. DeJuan Blair had 28 points and 11 rebounds, while George Hill filled the stat sheet with 18 points, six assists and five boards for San Antonio, which battled through the first three quarters before outscoring the Raptors, 30-16, in the final stanza.
"I thought coach (Jay) Triano had a great game plan and gave us all we could handle," said San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich. "He wore out our defense but it wasn't until the fourth quarter that we were able to catch up with them."
San Antonio's usual suspects, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, both scored 16 points in a winning effort. Duncan also had seven rebounds and six assists, while Parker handed out eight assists.
The Southwest Division-leading Spurs are 44-8 overall and 19-6 away from the Alamo City this season. Over the last eight seasons since moving to the AT&T Center, the Spurs combined "Rodeo Road Trip" record is 48-21. Last year, the Spurs went 4-4 on the trip. The best record they have compiled on the trip is 8-1, which was established in 2003. San Antonio will also make stops in Washington, New Jersey and Chicago on a trek that covers 8,965 miles.
On the injury front for the Spurs, guard Gary Neal (groin) and forward Tiago Splitter (hamstring) are both questionable for tonight.
Philadelphia lost for the third time in seven tries with Wednesday's tough 99-95 home loss to Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic. Howard muscled his way to 30 points and 17 rebounds, leading six players in double figures.
The Sixers were led by Lou Williams' 23 points off the bench -- 18 in the fourth quarter -- while Andre Iguodala added 21 points and eight assists in defeat. Jodie Meeks had 17 points and Elton Brand was held to 12 for Philadelphia, which is 16-9 at home and will visit Minnesota, Memphis and Houston following tonight's game.
"They made some key shots down the stretch and our rotations weren't what they were supposed to be," Iguodala said. "We can't harp on some of the things we did wrong because we did a lot of good things."
Orlando was able to post its fifth straight win in the City of Brotherly Love and is 10-3 in the last 13 contests in south Philly. Meanwhile, Brand has scored in double figures in each of the past 11 games. Sixers rookie Evan Turner, the No. 2 overall pick in last year's draft, is probable for tonight with upper back spasms. He had just two points versus the Magic.
San Antonio defeated Philadelphia, 116-93, back on Nov. 13 this season in the Alamo City, as Parker and Ginobili scored 24 and 18 points, respectively, in that one. The Spurs have won nine of the last 13 meetings in this series, but are winless in three straight contests at the Sixers.
- SAN ANTONIO: 71
PHILADELPHIA: 77
Final
Feb 11 9:21 PM - SAN ANTONIO: 58
PHILADELPHIA: 60
End of 3rd
Feb 11 8:45 PM - SAN ANTONIO: 46
PHILADELPHIA: 46
Halftime
Feb 11 8:07 PM - SAN ANTONIO: 22
PHILADELPHIA: 27
End of 1st
Feb 11 7:32 PM - SAN ANTONIO: 0
PHILADELPHIA: 0
1st Quarter - 12:00
Feb 11 7:10 PM
Related News
- The Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama Rivalry Has Started Early Dec 28
- Pat Frost retirement recognized at Spurs game Dec 26
- Sixers Bell Ringer: Christmas comeback falls short vs. Miami Heat Dec 25
- Maxey struggles mightily as Embiid-less Sixers fall to Heat on Christmas Day Dec 25
- Merry Christmas greetings from Wemby Claus Dec 25
- Sixers-Heat: second half thread Dec 25
- Sixers-Heat: first half thread Dec 25
- Game Thread: NBA Christmas Day basketball marathon Dec 25
- Sixers tip off Christmas day matchup vs. Miami Heat Dec 25
- Open Thread: Charlotte Hornets have never played on Christmas Day Dec 25
- Joel Embiid ruled out for Christmas matchup vs. Heat Dec 24
- The Weekly Run It Back: Sixers drop one, win two, Embiid tweaks ankle Dec 24