Spurs 117 - 112 Kings
Final
  for this game

Popovich's Spurs return to action at Sacramento

Mar 28, 2012 - 2:51 PM (Sports Network) - Gregg Popovich has been a bit of a mad scientist this season, dealing with age and injuries by juggling his lineup from night to night in this truncated campaign.

For the most part it's worked and the San Antonio Spurs will shoot for a sixth straight win Wednesday night when they finish a brief two-game road trip in Sacramento.

Popovich had his big three of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili last night in Phoenix for just the 16th time all season and the Spurs took advantage, downing a Suns team that had been playing very well 107-100.

Duncan dropped in 26 points on 11-of-16 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds while Parker finished with 24 points and handed out seven assists.

Rookie Kawhi Leonard contributed 14 points and seven boards and Ginobili added 13 points and five assists for the Spurs, who are 12-4 this season when each member of their "Big Three" has been available. Matt Bonner rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10 points.

"On offense we had a good run, especially in the fourth quarter," Parker said. "They missed a couple of shots...and then we started having a good run for us in the fourth quarter."

At 34-14 overall, San Antonio has a comfortable 6 1/2-game lead over Dallas in the Southwest Division and has climbed within three games of Oklahoma City for the top spot in the Western Conference.

The Kings, meanwhile, are playing out the string and have lost three straight, the latest of which was a 113-106 setback in Houston on Monday.

DeMarcus Cousins netted a career-high 38 points to go with 14 boards and Marcus Thornton donated 27 points for Sacramento.

"They're playing great, they're playing hard all the time, but it's just a matter of conquering a two-minute spurt," Kings head coach Keith Smart said of his team. "I think we'll be okay."

Sacramento snapped a 12-game skid to the Spurs by topping them, 88-86, in the Alamo City back on Jan. 20. San Antonio has won six straight at the Kings.






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