Spurs beat Kings 108-99

Team Report: Getting Inside


The Spurs head to Sacramento to play the Kings for the first time since closing out their first-round playoff series victory at ARCO Arena last spring.

The Kings, of course, have a new coach, Eric Musselman, and have not played the fast-paced game that characterized the Rick Adelman era in Sacramento. Until their loss at Golden State on Thursday, the Kings had not scored in triple digits all season.

Ron Artest, who was outstanding against the Spurs in the playoffs, recently was quoted as accusing the Spurs organization of pumping noxious gas into their locker room at AT&T Center before Game 5 of that playoff series, a game the Spurs won.

Tim Duncan has recorded four 20-point, 20-rebound games against the Kings in his career, more than he has against any other opponent.

REPLAY: There was little question the Spurs would begin Friday's game against the Chicago Bulls with more energy and intensity than they showed at the outset of their Wednesday night loss to the Charlotte Hornets, simply because they lost that one to a team that entered the game with a 1-6 record.

"We knew we'd get a better response this game," said All-Star forward Tim Duncan. "We still had a lot of turnovers, but overall, I thought we were pretty solid."

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was upset with his team's sloppy play, which resulted in a season-high 24 turnovers.

"A lot of our turnovers were just being too cute -- too much mustard, skipping steps, cutting things short, that sort of thing, rather than making the simple passes," Popovich said.

The Spurs got a big boost in the first half from Matt Bonner, who got an early call after both Fabricio Oberto and Francisco Elson got in foul trouble. Bonner scored all 10 of his points in 9:40 in the first half.

"I didn't need to tell him (to look for his shot)," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "That's what he does."



Team Report: Notes and Quotes


--Before the game, Bulls coach Scott Skiles defended the defensive tactics of Spurs forward Bruce Bowen, who was criticized recently by Knicks coach Isiah Thomas and warned by NBA VP of basketball operations Stu Jackson about some of his defensive tactics.

"Pretty much every game, if you challenge a shot properly, there's a possibility a guy could land on your foot," Skiles said. "Now why that has happened to (Bruce) so many times, I don't know. But that would be very hard to judge if that is intentional or not. I tend to think it's not. It's just an unfortunate thing that happens. Maybe not enough guys challenge shots. Maybe that's the reason you don't see it more."

After making only two of 17 three-point shots in their overtime loss to Charlotte on Wednesday -- one of them a meaningless fling by Tony Parker that beat the overtime buzzer -- the Spurs made 11-of-25 from beyond the arc against the Bulls. Matt Bonner made three of his four attempts from long distance.

--The Spurs made 15-of-19 free throws, 78.9 percent, which pushes their season free throw percentage up to 70.5 percent. The Spurs made 70.2 percent of their free throws last season.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I know he was really anxious to get in there and anxious to make a difference. He played great in the first half and made some shots for us." -- Tim Duncan, on Matt Bonner, who scored 10 points in 10 first-half minutes.


Team Report: Roster Report


ROTATION: Starters -- Point guard Tony Parker, Shooting guard Manu Ginobili, Small forward Bruce Bowen, Power forward Tim Duncan, Center Fabricio Oberto. Bench -- Forward Michael Finley, Center Francisco Elson, Forward Robert Horry, Forward Matt Bonner, Guard Beno Udrih, Guard Brent Barry, Guard Jacque Vaughn.

PLAYER NOTES:--Point guard Tony Parker took only six shots, all of them in the paint.

--Point guard Beno Udrih had a season-high nine assists.

--Manu Ginobili made only one of six shots and is shooting only 37.1 percent for the season.

--Forward Tim Duncan had his fifth consecutive double-double, with 21 points and 11 rebounds.

The Spurs are the only team to hold Ron Artest to a single digit scoring average during the regular season. He averages just 7.3 points on 31% shooting. Obviously Bowen has done an exceptional job on him in the past hopefully this continues. Manu will be tested as well while he attempts to guard most improved front runner Kevin Martin. The Spurs should dominate the inside game against the Brad Miller-less Kings. Hopefully they get out to a big lead and can rest some starters for Monday nights back to back game in Portland. I will be at that game and don't want to see them loose to a banged up Jailblazer team.

Artest is on my fantasy team..........

BKN Spurs Kings Preview
By The Associated PressNovember 18, 2006

Ron Artest didn't get much help on defense from his Sacramento Kings teammates in a first-round playoff loss to the San Antonio Spurs last season.

He hasn't been getting much assistance lately, either.

After two subpar games on defense, the Kings (5-3) face the Spurs (7-2) on Sunday in these teams' first meeting since their postseason series.

Game 6 of that best-of-seven matchup saw Artest play through a sprained ankle in Sacramento's 105-83 loss, which allowed San Antonio to advance to the Western Conference semifinals.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said he tried to take advantage of Artest's injury, which he believes hurt Sacramento's confidence. The Kings, though, struggled on defense all series, allowing 106.8 points per game.

Sacramento was among the league leaders in scoring defense this season, holding opponents to 90.5 points per game, until giving up more than 110 in each of its last two contests.

The Kings had a four-game winning streak snapped Thursday with a 117-105 loss to Golden State, allowing the opposition to shoot better than 50 percent for a second straight night. Sacramento beat Memphis 115-111 on Wednesday.

``We need to make sure we can defend as a team,'' said Artest, who had 20 points and 12 rebounds against the Warriors. ``I can't stop all the people on my own.''

Artest had four more steals Thursday and leads the league with 3.4 per game.

The former NBA Defensive Player of the Year is averaging 17.4 points this season, but has struggled in eight regular-season games against the Spurs. San Antonio is the only team against which Artest does not have a double-figure scoring average, posting 7.3 points per game and shooting 31 percent from the field.

Artest, though, did average 17.4 points and 1.6 steals in last season's playoff series.

The Kings committed 19 turnovers on Thursday and have been among the most turnover-prone teams in the league with 18.9 per contest.

Their scoring output had improved in every game this season before finally dropping off Thursday, when the team went 1-of-17 from 3-point range. Sacramento had been shooting 31 percent from beyond the arc.

Kings swingman John Salmons, a valuable bench player who has missed the last two games with a right thigh contusion, has been moving well in practice. Salmons said he's hoping to play Sunday, according to The Sacramento Bee.

While Sacramento has won all four of its home games, San Antonio is the NBA's only team without a road loss at 4-0.

The Spurs have won six of seven overall, including a 100-83 home win over Chicago on Friday behind Tim Duncan's 21 points and 11 rebounds.

It was the third time the Spurs have held an opponent under 90 points. They rank among the league leaders in scoring defense at 91.7 points per game.

San Antonio shot 51 percent from the field, but committed a season-high 24 turnovers. The Spurs have averaged 19 turnovers in their last four games, nearly six more than the team's average through its first five games.

``We've got to do a better job of taking care of the ball,'' Spurs forward Bruce Bowen said. ``There's nothing you can say or do about that except execute.''

Still, San Antonio had a season-best 30 assists Friday, including a career-high nine from reserve Beno Udrih and eight from Tony Parker.

``Well, the thing is we understand when the ball moves guys are getting wide open shots,'' Bowen said. ``We don't do a good job of it at times but as we continue to do it, it gets contagious and everybody is looking for the next open guy. We understand how to play the game, but sometimes we have little lapses.''

Duncan leads the Spurs with 21.4 points, 11.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. He is averaging 24.4 points, 14.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in 33 games against Sacramento.

How come the front page does not have the game time,or spurs VS Kings on TNT etc...?

Maybe I was not on the main page, Is that the main page with the Barry wall paper?

Yes the main page is clubspurs.com

I usually only post clubspurs content b/c we have a schedule button at teh top - it needs to be edited but I don't know how to access it yet - I'm working on it though,

That's cool. I just wanted to tell my friend what time the game started and I went to your front page and did not see it. Who does the front page?

I would move stuff around make it look like it's up to the minute. Replace the Barry pic with a pic of the Arco arena or the at&t center and have in huge letters Todays game.bla.........bla.......bla..........

Then if the spurs win, show Pop happy and a break down of the game. If the Spurs lose, show the Kings fans happy and a break down of the game...... You should talk to one of the spurs and get a one on one 60 second take on how the game went. it will be a spursclub only scoop, even if it's by phone. that way folks will have to come to your site to read it.

If you do all this already then never mind. I guess I need to hit the front page more often....

Spurs roll into Sacramento


(Sports Network) - The San Antonio Spurs shoot for their second straight win tonight when they visit the Sacramento Kings at ARCO Arena.

San Antonio has won six of its last seven games and posted a 100-83 win over the Chicago Bulls on Friday night. Tim Duncan dropped in 21 points and finished 10-of-15 shooting. He also pulled down 11 rebounds.

Tony Parker added 13 points and dished out eight assists for the Spurs, while Brent Barry finished with 14 points off the bench and Matt Bonner chipped in 10 points and finished 3-for-4 from three-point range.

Meanwhile, the Kings will try to get back on the winning track after having their four-game winning streak come to an end with Thursday's 117-105 loss to the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE Arena.

Kevin Martin poured in 26 points and Ron Artest added 20 points and 12 rebounds in the loss. Mike Bibby had 13 points and seven assists for Sacramento, which was just 1-for-17 from beyond the arc.

The Spurs went 2-1 against Sacramento last season and have won six of eight and seven of the last 10 meetings in the series.

San Antonio has also won five of seven and six of its last 10 at ARCO Arena

--Point guard Beno Udrih had a season-high nine assists.

--Manu Ginobili made only one of six shots and is shooting only 37.1 percent for the season.

--Forward Tim Duncan had his fifth consecutive double-double, with 21 points and 11 rebounds.

It is a great sign that Beno is playing well.Pop has future plans for him

I don't know what happend to Manu.But it seems he lost his "mojo".
We need Manu for the rest of the season especially during the playoffs.

It seems that Tim is Tim again.And that's a great sign for the Spurs.

although manu is not shooting the ball that well, his rebounding and assists numbers are up

Just keep Kevin Martin in check and the Spurs should come away with a W.

Game 6 of that best-of-seven matchup saw Artest play through a sprained ankle in Sacramento's 105-83 loss, which allowed San Antonio to advance to the Western Conference semifinals.

oh brother................ like that was the only thing that allowe them to advance....

How about that shot by TIMVP at the buzzer!!!!!!

Wow! GO TIMMY GO! 29 points and counting.

this just in - Brent is ok. He was injured in a collision earlier tonight.

He had a 2 inch gash in his head that took nine stiches to close but the announcers jstu said he will try to return to teh game,