Tim Duncan was effective as ever, going 10- of-12 from the field for 23 points, as the San Antonio Spurs continued their home dominance over the Indiana Pacers with a 122-109 victory to begin the 2010-11 season.
Duncan, the 12-time All-Star, two-time league MVP and four-time NBA champion, also pulled down 12 rebounds for the Spurs, who are seeking their 12th straight 50-win season. Manu Ginobili contributed with 22 points, while Tony Parker had 20 to go with nine assists.
Richard Jefferson and George Hill each added 16 points in the victory, San Antonio's ninth straight over Indiana at home and seventh straight overall.
"It's all about our defense. We have to have a defensive identity," Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said. "They scored 44 in the second half that's what it was all about."
Roy Hibbert was effective in the paint for the Pacers, providing 28 points and nine rebounds. Indiana, which is looking to end a streak of four straight playoff-less years, also got 26 points from Danny Granger and 19 from newly acquired point guard Darren Collison.
The Pacers closed their deficit to two, 95-93, early in the fourth on a T.J. Ford jumper, but the next 11 points came from San Antonio, essentially sealing the outcome.
Ginobili sank a three-pointer, and Hill made a pair of baskets sandwiched around four Duncan points for a 106-93 lead with seven minutes left, as Indiana went over four minutes without scoring.
Hill's four-point play moments later expanded the San Antonio lead to 15, and the Spurs cruised to the finish line.
"I thought we competed and then their stars turned it up a notch in the fourth quarter and we did not have an answer for it," Pacers head coach Jim O'Brien said. "We turned the basketball over too many times. We were minus 19 in points from points scored off of turnovers. Other than turning the ball over, I thought we did what we wanted offensively."
San Antonio held a 37-31 lead after a high-scoring first quarter, but the Pacers moved ahead in the second before Parker's two free throws in the closing seconds of the half gave the Spurs a slight 66-65 edge at the break.
A pair of jumpers from Hibbert midway through the third provided Indiana with an 82-79 advantage, but an 8-0 San Antonio run -- aided by two baskets from rookie James Anderson -- put the hosts back ahead, 89-84, with under two minutes left in the third.
It was 92-89 heading to the fourth.
Anderson finished with 10 points in his NBA debut...Josh McRoberts had 11 points and six rebounds for the Pacers...Collison was acquired from New Orleans after he backed up Chris Paul in his rookie season...The Spurs have won 10 of the last 11 meetings.
Pacers Fall in Season Opener to Spurs 122 - 109
Tim Duncan was effective as ever, going 10- of-12 from the field for 23 points, as the San Antonio Spurs continued their home dominance over the Indiana Pacers with a 122-109 victory to begin the 2010-11 season.
Duncan, the 12-time All-Star, two-time league MVP and four-time NBA champion, also pulled down 12 rebounds for the Spurs, who are seeking their 12th straight 50-win season. Manu Ginobili contributed with 22 points, while Tony Parker had 20 to go with nine assists.
Richard Jefferson and George Hill each added 16 points in the victory, San Antonio's ninth straight over Indiana at home and seventh straight overall.
"It's all about our defense. We have to have a defensive identity," Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said. "They scored 44 in the second half that's what it was all about."
Roy Hibbert was effective in the paint for the Pacers, providing 28 points and nine rebounds. Indiana, which is looking to end a streak of four straight playoff-less years, also got 26 points from Danny Granger and 19 from newly acquired point guard Darren Collison.
The Pacers closed their deficit to two, 95-93, early in the fourth on a T.J. Ford jumper, but the next 11 points came from San Antonio, essentially sealing the outcome.
Ginobili sank a three-pointer, and Hill made a pair of baskets sandwiched around four Duncan points for a 106-93 lead with seven minutes left, as Indiana went over four minutes without scoring.
Hill's four-point play moments later expanded the San Antonio lead to 15, and the Spurs cruised to the finish line.
"I thought we competed and then their stars turned it up a notch in the fourth quarter and we did not have an answer for it," Pacers head coach Jim O'Brien said. "We turned the basketball over too many times. We were minus 19 in points from points scored off of turnovers. Other than turning the ball over, I thought we did what we wanted offensively."
San Antonio held a 37-31 lead after a high-scoring first quarter, but the Pacers moved ahead in the second before Parker's two free throws in the closing seconds of the half gave the Spurs a slight 66-65 edge at the break.
A pair of jumpers from Hibbert midway through the third provided Indiana with an 82-79 advantage, but an 8-0 San Antonio run -- aided by two baskets from rookie James Anderson -- put the hosts back ahead, 89-84, with under two minutes left in the third.
It was 92-89 heading to the fourth.
Anderson finished with 10 points in his NBA debut...Josh McRoberts had 11 points and six rebounds for the Pacers...Collison was acquired from New Orleans after he backed up Chris Paul in his rookie season...The Spurs have won 10 of the last 11 meetings.
Oct 28 10:13a by Matt Grecco - 0 comments