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Spurs take down Thunder in OKC

Mar 17, 2012 - 6:31 AM Oklahoma City, OK (Sports Network) - Tim Duncan was one of five starters to finish in double figures as his 16 point, 19 rebound performance helped the Spurs hang on to a 114-105 victory over Oklahoma City on Friday.

Tony Parker scored a team-high 25 points to go with seven assists, while DeJuan Blair added a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Danny Green chipped in 21 points and Kawhi Leonard netted 15 to give San Antonio its third-straight victory.

"I think they fed off me in the first half to get out to the big start," said Blair about his big first half. "In the second half they made their run, but we didn't put our heads down, we just kept going and we got the win."

Russell Westbrook poured in a game-high 36 points and Kevin Durant followed with 25 in the loss as the Thunder dropped to 18-4 at Chesapeake Energy Arena this year.

The Spurs led by as many as 27 in the first half and 20 in the third quarter, but Oklahoma City used an 18-2 spurt bridging the third and fourth quarters to pull within two, 92-90, with 9:37 left in the game.

Green halted the run with a long two, and quickly followed with a three to extend the Spurs edge to seven.

The Thunder would again pull within two at 98-96, but Green connected on another trey to put the Spurs back up five midway through the fourth.

With the lead at five and 1:20 remaining, Durant hit a triple from the right corner to cut the deficit to two but the bucket would be the Thunder's last.

Duncan quickly answered with a layup before Green intercepted an inbound pass and finished a breakaway dunk on the other end to give the Spurs a 111-105 edge with under a minute to play as San Antonio hit 3-of-4 from the line down the stretch to hang on for the road victory.

"You can't get down 27 points to a good team, to any team and expect to come back," said Thunder head coach Scott Brooks. "But give our guys credit. They nearly did that tonight with their toughness and spirit."

San Antonio used a 12-2 surge in the first to take a 30-19 lead after one.

The Spurs kept their foot on the gas in the second, opening the frame on an 11-2 spurt and later adding a 12-0 surge to take a 59-33 lead after Parker converted a three-point play with 4:15 left until halftime.

The Thunder closed the half on a 12-2 run to trim the deficit to 65-48 at the break.

Game Notes

San Antonio will travel to Dallas on Saturday, while the Thunder host Portland on Sunday...At the trade deadline Thursday, the Spurs re-acquired guard Stephen Jackson from Golden State for Richard Jefferson and a conditional first-round draft pick this year.