San Antonio Spurs Team Report - January 16

(Basketball News) - The Spurs dropped a 73-67 decision to the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center on Saturday night.

Tim Duncan scored 18 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, but missed 12 of his 19 shot attempts. Duncan has 429 double-doubles in his career.

San Antonio had a two-game win streak halted and lost for just the fourth time in 18 games. The Spurs connected on just 35 percent of their shots from the field, including 2-of-16 from long range.

The Spurs led 50-48 heading into the final 12 minutes, before Houston rattled of an 8-2 run to go up 56-52 with seven minutes left. Jon Barry capped the run with a three-pointer.

Barry’s brother, Brent, canned a trey for the Spurs with 5:10 left, and a Duncan hoop pushed the Spurs in front with 4:39 left.

But Tracy McGrady scored five straight points, and Bob Sura hit a three- pointer to cap an 8-0 run to give Houston a 64-57 advantage with 3:23 left. The Rockets would not trail thereafter.

Spurs guard Manu Ginobili left in the third quarter after bruising his right quadriceps. He played just one minute after halftime, then was taken out of the game. Ginobili had six points on 1-of-5 shooting, three rebounds and three steals before leaving.

The 58 combined first-half points is the second-fewest in a first half this year, and the fifth fewest since the shot clock was introduced.

San Antonio has a day off before returning to the court on Monday against the Washington Wizards at the SBC Center.