Pelicans 80 - 96 Spurs
Final
  for this game

Spurs tie franchise record with 17th straight win

Mar 30, 2014 - 4:47 AM

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San Antonio, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Marco Belinelli scored 18 points on 4- of-5 shooting from beyond the arc and the San Antonio Spurs won their 17th consecutive game with a 96-80 decision over the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday.

The franchise also won 17 games in a row from Feb. 29-March 31, 1996.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich noted after the game that Belinelli brings more to the Spurs lineup than just his 3-point shooting.

"He's been really steady for us and he plays a great all-around game," said Popovich. "He's not just a shooter, but he's a good passer. He's maybe one of our two best cutters on the team without the ball."

Manu Ginobili and Kawhi Leonard each scored 15 points with five rebounds for San Antonio, while Austin Daye added 13 points in the win.

Brian Roberts paced New Orleans with 18 points off the bench. Austin Rivers recorded 16 points in a reserve role and Tyreke Evans added 11 points for the Pelicans, who had their five-game winning streak snapped.

Anthony Davis missed the contest after spraining his ankle early in Friday's contest against Utah.

"We just came out really slow in that first (quarter)," said Rivers. "It was kind of tough from there. They're the best team in the NBA. They play so well together."

Alexis Ajinca opened the game with a jumper for New Orleans and San Antonio countered with a 23-4 run.

Belinelli scored eight points during the surge and Ginobili capped it with a layup to give the Spurs a 23-6 lead with just over four minutes left.

New Orleans responded with a 9-2 run to cut the deficit to 10, but Ginobili converted a three-point play to close the scoring in the first with San Antonio leading 28-15 after 12 minutes.

An 11-2 run for the Spurs late in the second helped the Spurs to a 19-point advantage and they led 52-35 at the break.

Duncan's layup early in the fourth stretched the lead to a game-high 22, 61-39, but the Pelicans trimmed the deficit to 70-59 entering the fourth.

New Orleans couldn't get within single digits in the fourth as the Spurs continued to roll.

Game Notes

San Antonio shot 37-for-78 (47.4 percent) from the field ... New Orleans made 32-of-81 attempts from the floor ... The Spurs had a 46-41 edge on the boards.






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