Spurs, behind Parker, halt red-hot Suns

Phoenix, AZ (Basketball News) - Tony Parker poured in 29 points and San Antonio put an end to Phoenix’s 11-game win streak with an impressive 117-93 victory at America West Arena.

Manu Ginobili added 18 points while Tim Duncan had 16 for the Spurs, who rebounded from Tuesday’s loss to the Clippers and posted their eighth win in nine games.

San Antonio shot a sizzling 55 percent and led virtually from start to finish. Ginobili ended 6-of-8 from the field, including 3-of-4 from three-point range, while Duncan made good on 8-of-11 shots.

Shawn Marion had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Suns, who played without reigning MVP Steve Nash and lost for the first time since a 103-101 setback to Minnesota on February 6. Boris Diaw nearly amassed a triple-double, finishing with 16 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.

Nash missed his first game of the season after spraining his right ankle Monday against New Orleans/Oklahoma City. Phoenix also played without guard Leandro Barbosa, who sat out with an injured groin.

The Spurs started the game on an 8-2 run and controlled the contest throughout. A driving layup by Ginobili in the closing seconds of the first quarter gave San Antonio a 38-29 lead at period’s end.

Up 40-35 early in the second quarter, San Antonio scored nine straight points to move ahead by double digits. A basket from beyond the arc by Brent Barry highlighted the burst, which ended with Ginobili’s runner four minutes into the frame.

Phoenix got as close as eight points down later on, but the Spurs ended the half strong and took a 64-50 advantage into the break.

San Antonio maintained its dominance into the third quarter and the lead swelled to 20 points when Bruce Bowen sank a jumper with 7:33 left in the period to make the score 76-56.

An 11-2 run capped by Eddie House’s layup late in the third quarter pulled Phoenix within 81-69. However, the Spurs scored eight of the frame’s last 10 points and took a commanding 89-71 lead into the fourth after Ginobili buried a triple with 30 seconds left.

Game Notes

Phoenix had a string of 22 consecutive games of 100 or more points come to an end. The last time the Suns failed to hit the century mark was a 117-90 defeat at Sacramento on January 17...Phoenix also had an 11-game win streak snapped by the Spurs last season...Barry and Beno Udrih each had 13 points for San Antonio...Marion’s double-double was his league-best 47th of the season...The Spurs have won two of the three meetings between the clubs, with the teams still to play in San Antonio later on.