RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- The San Antonio Spurs are known for their
lock-down defense. Some nights, the Spurs lock it down a little
tighter.
Tim Duncan scored 20 points and the Spurs used a stifling
defense in the second half to beat the Vancouver Grizzlies 91-78
Saturday night.
"It's been a while since we've done it like this," said San
Antonio center David Robinson after a record-setting effort by the
Spurs. "Right now, we're showing flashes. But we still need to get
to where we're doing it for 48 minutes."
Vancouver managed just nine points in the third quarter. That
total is the fewest points ever allowed by the Spurs in a third
period.
The Grizzlies scored only 23 points in the second half. That
total is the lowest in Vancouver history. The Grizzlies' previous
low was a 24-point half against Dallas on Feb. 17, 1997.
"The second half was a huge effort," said Duncan. "We had
great energy and great defensive intensity. Terry Porter, Antonio
Daniels and Malik Rose all came out and did a great job for us."
The Grizzlies, who opened the season with four wins in five
games, shot 9-for-44 from the field and lost their second straight
game.
The Spurs took control of the game with solid defense in the
third quarter. San Antonio, which trailed 62-47, limited the
Grizzlies to just five points in a 13:01 span.
"Our offense really hurt us tonight," said Vancouver coach
Sidney Lowe. "We just couldn't hit shots in the second half. We
would miss and they would get it and turn it into points. They
really turned up the intensity on defense."
San Antonio tied the game at 64 on a Malik Rose layup with 11:38
remaining the game. Early fourth quarter baskets by Duncan, Terry
Porter, Danny Ferry and David Robinson gave the Spurs into a 72-65
lead with 8:49 remaining.
"We did the work in the second half and played the way we
needed," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "Everyone performed
their job on the court with maximum intensity. The group on the
court did the job. It was most pleasing to see them dig down."
Robinson and Porter each scored 13 points for the Spurs.
Michael Dickerson led Vancouver with 18 points.
By outscoring the Vancouver bench, 26-1, in the second half, the
Spurs bench was an important factor in their late surge.
"You always have to be ready," said Porter. "As a sub, that's
your job. We really had to work to get easy opportunities. Early
on, we weren't converting on those opportunities. In the second
half, we were taking advantage of them."
The Grizzlies now have lost two in a row after staging an early
bid for the Midwest Division lead.
"This was a game where we had a chance to beat somebody and
people would have to pay attention," said Vancouver forward Grant
Long. "People would have said that we're supposed to be able to
beat the Clippers and Dallas, but a win like this would have put
those critics aside."
The Grizzlies made just three turnovers in the first half and
held a 55-42 lead at halftime.
Rookie forward Stromile Swift scored 13 points in the second
quarter, including nine in a 24-6 run as the Grizzlies transformed
a two-point deficit into a 16-point lead.
Vancouver scored a team-record 39 points in the second quarter.
The Spurs held a 19-16 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Game
notes
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is nine victories away from
the team's career victory record. Popovich is 168-118 since taking
over in 1996. Doug Moe went 177-135 from 1976-1980. ... The Spurs
had won 16 of 19 games against Vancouver before Saturday evening.
... San Antonio's Tim Duncan has six double-doubles in his first
seven games this season and leads active player with 160.
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NBA Scoreboard
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