Win or lose, it will be a successful rodeo road trip for the San Antonio Spurs, who will close out the lengthy nine-game trek Sunday night against the Phoenix Suns.
The Spurs are 6-2 on the sojourn and dropped a 107-101 overtime decision at Golden State Friday night. The Warriors ended a 16-game slide in the series and outscored the Spurs, 14-8, in the extra period. The game was tight throughout until the overtime session was needed.
Danny Green led six San Antonio players in double-figures with 20 points, while Tim Duncan scored 19 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Tony Parker, who was averaging 29.3 ppg in his previous six, registered 18 points and six rebounds for San Antonio, which had won five in a row and 16 of 17 games.
"I think we got a little bit stubborn at different periods of the game, didn't move the ball really well," San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. "They did a great job defensively. That's what allowed them to have the opportunity to win the basketball game. They did a really fine job in that regard."
San Antonio is 22-11 away from the Alamo City and will begin a six-game homestand Wednesday versus the Suns. The Spurs have won 18 in a row as the host.
In injury news for the Spurs, Parker is expected to miss Sunday's game with a bruised right triceps. Guard Gary Neal (calf) and center Tiago Splitter (quadriceps) are both questionable.
The Suns have struggled this month, losing eight of 10 games, and opened a three-game homestand with Friday's 113-88 drubbing at the hands of the Boston Celtics.
Goran Dragic totaled 19 points and 10 assists, while Markieff Morris scored 11 points and Marcin Gortat registered 10 for Phoenix, which has dropped three in a row in the desert and is 12-14 at home. The Suns lost every quarter and were outscored, 32-21, in the final stanza.
"We're just running (around) like some inexperienced kids, and we just don't know what we're doing out there," Gortat said.
Phoenix is 5-10 since Lindsey Hunter took over for Alvin Gentry and is just one of nine teams in the NBA allowing at least 100 ppg.
With Minnesota still scheduled to visit the Valley of the Sun, Phoenix hopes to improve on its home ledger tonight. It lost the first meeting with the Spurs, 108-99, on Jan. 26 in the Alamo City as Parker scored 11 of his game- high 31 points in the final quarter.
The Spurs have won five straight, eight of nine and 12 of the last 15 meetings with Phoenix. These two teams have split the last 14 meetings in Arizona.
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