Spurs 127 - 102 Kings
Final
  for this game

Spurs close out stretch at Kings

Apr 18, 2012 - 3:19 PM (Sports Network) - The San Antonio Spurs will seek to sweep a three-game, three-night California road trip on Wednesday when the Western Conference leaders pay a visit to Sacramento.

The Spurs have won four straight overall, including back-to-back wins over Golden State and the Kobe Bryant-less Lakers. Tony Parker scored 29 points and handed out 13 assists on Tuesday as San Antonio downed Los Angeles, 112-91, at Staples Center.

Tim Duncan added 19 points and eight rebounds, while Manu Ginobili finished with 15 points, six rebounds and four assists for the Spurs, who have a slim half-game lead over Oklahoma City for the top spot in the West.

"We're going to play for it, but at the same time I think the most important thing for (head coach Gregg Popovich) and for us is to be healthy and be fresh when the playoffs start," Parker said about the No. 1 seed in the West.

The Kings, meanwhile, are playing out the string and snapped a seven-game losing streak on Sunday when Marcus Thornton's jumper with 3.4 seconds left lifted Sacramento over the Portland Trail Blazers, 104-103, at Power Balance Pavilion.

"That's what everyone dreams about, hitting the game-winning shot," Thornton said.

Thornton had 20 points, while Tyreke Evans also dropped in 20 and DeMarcus Cousins finished with 23 points and seven rebounds for the Kings.

Sacramento did not lead at any point until Cousins broke a 93-93 tie with a short hook shot with about 3 1/2 minutes left in the game.

But Portland would answer at the other end and with the score knotted at 100 and time winding down, Cousins received an inbounds pass and dropped in a layup from under the basket with 10.7 second left.

Matthews then connected on a step-back three-pointer from the left corner with 5.8 seconds remaining to give the Trail Blazers a one-point lead, but Thornton came off a screen before grabbing a pass near the free-throw line and pulling up for the game-winning shot with 3.4 ticks showing on the clock.

"Thornton made a good read," Matthews said. "[Cousins] gave a pretty good [screen]."

Raymond Felton's half-court shot banked hard off the backboard to seal the win for Sacramento.

The Spurs have dominated the Kings in recent years, winning 22 of 25 overall in the series and 11 of 12 in California's capital.






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