Spurs beat Kings 108-99

That's a relief.

The only reason why I wasn't posting like mad, and having spaz attacks on here was because the game was on TV here.

I'm glad you got to see thsi one Tiffany - it was pretty good.

Duncan's 35 leads Spurs over Kings
[url]http://www.tsn.ca/nba/news_story/?ID=185178&hubname=nba]link[/url]
Associated Press


San Antonio Spurs center Tim Duncan (21) shoots over Sacramento Kings defenders Kenny Thomas, right, and Shareef Abdur-Rahim as Kevin Martin (23) looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2006. (AP Photo/Steve Yeater)

11/19/2006 11:42:32 PM

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Tim Duncan scored a season-high 35 points and grabbed 14 rebounds and the San Antonio Spurs improved their franchise-best road start to 5-0 with a 108-99 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night.

The first meeting between the teams since the Spurs beat the Kings in the sixth game of their first-round playoff series in May was a physical game that featured three players leave for the locker room to get stitches.

Brent Barry scored 11 points off the bench before going down with 22.2 seconds left in the second quarter following a hard collision with Ronnie Price. Both players were helped off the court and needed stitches - nine for Barry to close a two-inch gash on the left side of his forehead and seven for Price on his chin. Both returned, with Barry sporting a giant bandage held on by a headband.

Sacramento's Kenny Thomas headed to the locker room 5:25 before halftime to get two stitches on his lip after being hit in the mouth by Duncan. Kings coach Eric Musselman thought it should have been Duncan's third foul but nothing was called.

Ron Artest had 22 points and five rebounds, scoring seven of the Kings' points in a 12-3 spurt to start the second quarter. But the Kings couldn't stay with the Spurs and lost their second straight after a four-game winning streak. San Antonio won for the sixth time in eight games on Sacramento's home floor.





Kevin Martin added 20 points and Sacramento - in a stretch with eight of 10 games at home including three of its next four - had a four-game winning streak in Arco Arena snapped.

The Kings had a tough time getting a hand in the face of the Spurs' shooters, who made five of their first 11 three-point tries and eight in all - three by Barry.

Tony Parker added 17 points and Manu Ginobili 16 for San Antonio, which watched Duncan make 13 of 17 shots and go 9-for-11 from the free-throw line.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich spoke to star defender Bruce Bowen on Friday after the forward was recently called and warned by Stu Jackson, the NBA's executive vice president of basketball operations, about giving jump shooters enough space to land - otherwise he could face a fine or suspension.

New York's Steve Francis injured his left ankle on Nov. 6 when he came down on Bowen's foot after a made shot and Knicks coach Isiah Thomas complained to the league about Bowen.

''I had a talk with him about just being Bruce Bowen,'' Popovich said. ''All that stuff is garbage, be who he is. He's the best perimeter defender in the league.''

Bowen has said he is committed to sticking with his menacing defensive style.

Duncan had back-to-back layins late in the second, Ginobili sank two free throws at 3.2 and Duncan sunk a 15-footer at the buzzer to give San Antonio a 56-54 halftime edge.

Sacramento's depth took another hit - they're already without injured centre Brad Miller because of a left foot injury - with guard John Salmons forced to sit out with a bruised right quadriceps muscle.

Notes: Musselman celebrated his 42nd birthday. He is the fourth-youngest coach in the NBA. .. There were 11 lead changes in the first quarter alone. .. After a first half filled with questionable foul calls, the officials were booed loudly as they left with security at halftime. .. There were two first-half technicals - at 10:13 on Shareef Abdur-Rahim for arguing after being whistled for a foul on Duncan and on the Spurs' Robert Horry for a defensive violation.

Nice new sig there Blondie.

This was a good game besides all the players getting hurt and the questionable calls by the refs. Major Props to TD for ripping apart that soft King front line. Barry looked kinda funny with that headband on. Hope he feels alright.

http://www.nba.com/games/20061119/SASSAC/boxscore.html

Kings were almost dead even with the Spurs in most categories except this one: Points in the Paint 48 32 (favor of Spurs)

Domination by Tim for once, nice! And he was 9-11 on free throws!!!