Spurs 84 - 91 Jazz
Final
  for this game

Playoff-bound Spurs surge into Utah

Apr 9, 2012 - 3:10 PM (Sports Network) - Fresh off clinching their 15th consecutive playoff berth, the red-hot San Antonio Spurs will shoot for their season-high 12th straight win and a home-and-home sweep of the Utah Jazz when the two teams meet again in Salt Lake City.

An 11-game winning streak has the Spurs atop the Western Conference, percentage points ahead of Oklahoma City. San Antonio last missed the postseason in 1996-97, the season before Tim Duncan arrived in the Alamo City.

Tony Parker scored 10 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter on Sunday as the ran their winning streak to 11 with a 114-104 victory over Utah in San Antonio.

Manu Ginobili added 23 points and Duncan posted 13 points and 16 rebounds for the Spurs, who also won 11 straight from Jan. 30-Feb. 20 earlier this season. Both streaks are an NBA-high for 2011-12.

"Tony decided he wasn't going to let them come back and he did what he did," said Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich.

Popovich also continues to get his key players rest and sat starting center DeJuan Blair on Sunday.

"He's telling before [the game] who he's not going to play," said Parker. "We all have to be ready."

Al Jefferson finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Derrick Favors chipped in 14 and 12 for Utah, which sits 1 1/2 games back of Denver for the final playoff spot in the West Conference with nine to play. Devin Harris totaled 18 points and six assists.

The Jazz, who were outscored at the free throw line, 38-16, also return to the Beehive State banged-up. Forward C.J. Miles left in the second quarter with a strained left calf and has been scheduled for an MRI while reserve guard Earl Watson sat out the second half in San Antonio with a right knee strain.

"I thought (the Spurs) were aggressive. They shot the ball very well," Jazz head coach Tyrone Corbin said.

San Antonio has won five straight over Utah.






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