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Parker scores 31 points in Spurs' 116-90 victory over Clippers

By: Beth Harris, The Associated Press

Friday, Feb. 22, 2013 at 1:18 AM | Comments: 0

San Antonio Spurs center Tiago Splitter, left, of Brazil, knocks the ball from the hands of Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The aging San Antonio Spurs came out of the All-Star break rested and raring to go.

They notched their second win since the break ended and fifth in a row, beating the Los Angeles Clippers 116-90 on Thursday night behind 31 points from Tony Parker.

"Tony's been a huge part of us playing that well. He's been the one who is most consistent," said Tim Duncan, who had nine points. "Everything kind of clicked together. We made a lot of shots. They just couldn't get their footing."

The Spurs led all the way in beating the Clippers for the first time this season and improving to an NBA-best 22-10 on the road, where they've also won five in a row.

"It was a complete butt-kicking from the start in every way you can count," Clippers coach and former Spurs player Vinny Del Negro said.

Parker had seven assists and no turnovers in 28 minutes and Danny Green added 15 points. The West-leading Spurs tied their season-best with 59-per cent shooting, hit eight 3-pointers and made 22 of 28 free throws. They had lost both previous meetings with the Clippers in November.

"We're not that good and they're not that bad," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "I think it's because we already played one. Too long of a layoff (for the Clippers)."

Matt Barnes scored 18 points, Blake Griffin had 17 and Jamal Crawford 15 as the Clippers' four-game winning streak ended in their first game after the break. Chris Paul, MVP in Houston last weekend with 20 points and 15 assists, was held to four points on 1-of-6 shooting and three assists.

"It's very humbling, but it happens," Griffin said. "There's going to be games where you feel like nothing's going your way, so we need to get back to what made us successful against San Antonio. We've got to have a good practice tomorrow, go over our mistakes and bounce back against Utah on Saturday."

The Clippers have lost their first game coming out of the break in nine of the last 10 years, including five in a row. They came in trailing the Spurs by 4 1/2 games for the best record in the NBA, but they never got a run going and their defence didn't do much. The biggest excitement during the game was generated by a fan who made a half-court shot during a timeout to win a new car.

"They just beat us, beat us bad," Paul said. "Luckily it wasn't a Game 7 or our last game of the season. They came out and executed. Tony was in a rocking chair all night. We just let him go wherever he wanted to, and we never really could get going offensively. It's a very humbling loss."

The Spurs led by 28 points to start the fourth quarter, when Parker and most of the other Spurs starters rested while fans hit the exits in droves. The Clippers equaled their worst loss of the season.

"It's only one game. It doesn't mean anything," Parker said. "You have to look at the big picture. We want to win a championship."

San Antonio put on a free-throw shooting clinic in the third quarter, making 16 of 20, including 12 during a 14-4 run that extended its lead to 81-53.

Popovich said he tried to call a couple plays, but Parker overrode him.

"He's really matured as a player," Popovich said. "He just used to be a scoring point guard. Now there's a whole new world out there. He's a complete player."

Parker said, "He's always trusting me and letting me grow as a point guard and calling plays. Before in my career I was always looking at him. Now I don't look at him."

The Spurs shot 63 per cent to lead 58-43 at halftime. Parker scored 17 points in the half, while Griffin was the only Clipper in double figures with 13 points. Paul didn't make his first basket until the final 3 minutes of the second quarter.

San Antonio made its first six shots to start the game and used a 17-4 run, including seven by Manu Ginobili, to close out the first quarter leading 34-21.

NOTES: San Antonio improved to 6-1 on its nine-game rodeo trip. ... The Clippers dropped to 21-6 at home. ... Spurs F-G Stephen Jackson played for the first time since his wife had a miscarriage. He had left the team in Chicago on Feb. 11. ... Spurs F Kawhi Leonard was held out for precautionary reasons because of soreness in his left knee, the same reason he missed 16 games earlier in the season. ... Adam Silver, who will succeed David Stern as NBA commish, attended the game. ... There was a moment of silence for late Lakers owner Jerry Buss, who died Monday.

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