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Spurs, Rockets renew Southwest rivalry

Nov 30, 2013 - 4:12 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Basketball fans in the Alamo City are in for a treat when their San Antonio Spurs return home to face the Southwest Division-rival Houston Rockets at the AT&T Center.

The Spurs split their two road games and rebounded from just the second loss of the season with Friday's 109-91 victory over the Orlando Magic. The Spurs shot much better in the win, making 55.3 percent from the field, and were led by Tim Duncan and Marco Belinelli.

Duncan and Belinelli both scored 19 points, while Cory Joseph netted 13 points and Kawhi Leonard scored 10 points for San Antonio, which bounded back from a poor shooting effort in Oklahoma City. The Thunder halted the Spurs' 11-game winning streak. Tony Parker finished with 16 points and seven assists in that one, but missed Friday's game with a sore ankle.

"We'll see how he feels," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of Parker. "His sprain wasn't severe."

Parker is a game-time decision Saturday with the Rockets in town and is the only Spur averaging 30 minutes or more. He has scored in double figures in all 15 games this season and is averaging 17.7 points and 6.2 assists per game.

"We don't depend on absolutely one player. If we were going to miss Tony for 20 games, that's another thing," Spurs top reserve Manu Ginobili said after the Orlando win. "But we can replace anybody for one or two games. We are deep. That's one of the strengths of this team."

San Antonio outscored Orlando 44-24 in the paint and outrebounded the Magic by a 43-28 difference. A 17-0 run put the game out of reach.

The Spurs, who will also host Atlanta on this brief residency, are 7-0 at the AT&T Center and 4-0 against the West at home.

Houston rolls into San Antonio having won four straight and seven of eight games, including Friday's 114-95 victory versus the Brooklyn Nets.

Chandler Parsons led six Houston players in double digits with 21 points and made all six of his 3-pointers. Omri Casspi scored 16 points, Francisco Garcia buried 5-of-7 3-pointers for 15 points and Aaron Brooks netted 14, as the Rockets shot 52.7 percent and made 19-of-32 from downtown.

Houston used a 13-0 run for a 25-8 lead and has won six in a row at home.

Dwight Howard and Terrence Jones scored 12 and 11 points, respectively. James Harden returned after missing three games due to a foot injury and finished with nine points and seven assists.

"Hopefully, that foot feels as good tomorrow as it did today," Rockets coach Kevin McHale said of Harden. "We'll let him just try to work his way back and get a little longer minutes. Hopefully, this is behind him now."

The Rockets lead the NBA in scoring with 109.3 points per game, but are allowing 102.5 ppg. They are 4-3 on the road and will also visit Utah.

San Antonio took three of four meetings with Houston last season and has won nine of the past 13 in this series. The Rockets are winless in seven straight and 27 of the last 31 trips to the Alamo City.

Duncan has posted 38 point-rebound double-doubles in his career against Houston. The Spurs lead the all-time series with Houston 97-76 and hold a 60-26 record at home versus the Rockets.