San Antonio Spurs Team Report - April 12

(Basketball News) - The San Antonio Spurs try to stay in the race for the top spot in the Western Conference, as they welcome the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday to the SBC Center. It is the third and final meeting of the season between the clubs. The Spurs defeated Portland, 114-80, on December 30th at the Rose Garden, while the Blazers beat San Antonio, 107-99, at Portland.

The Spurs are one game behind the Phoenix Suns for the top seed in the West. Both teams have five games remaining on their regular-season schedules. The Suns host the New Orleans Hornets tonight.

San Antonio attempts to win its third straight game. On Sunday, Tony Parker scored a career-high 35 points and hit the go-ahead basket with 2.9 seconds remaining in the second overtime, lifting the Spurs to a 136-134 win over the Golden State Warriors at The Arena in Oakland. Parker also dished out 12 assists and grabbed six rebounds for the Spurs, who also won a double-overtime game on Saturday night against the Clippers at the Staples Center.

Nazr Mohammed finished with 19 points and 15 rebounds in Sunday’s victory for San Antonio, while Robert Horry and Bruce Bowen scored 17 points apiece for the Spurs.

Parker is averaging 31 points, five rebounds and 10.5 assists in his last two games. He more than 46 minutes in both of the contests.

The Spurs are a league-best 36-3 at home this season. They have won eight straight as the host. San Antonio, which will host the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday in its final regular-season game at the SBC Center, has three games on the road remaining as it will visit Utah, Memphis and Minnesota.

San Antonio is a perfect 6-0 in Tuesday games this season.

All-Star forward Tim Duncan is getting closer to returning from a severely sprained right ankle. He has been on the injured list since March 21st. The Spurs are 7-4 since Duncan, who was hurt on March 20th during a 110-101 loss to Detroit, suffered the injury.