Spurs in L.A. tonight
Sports Network) - After opening the season with three straight losses, the San Antonio Spurs seem to have gotten their act together. They will shoot for a season high three straight wins tonight against the lowly Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. San Antonio has won two in a row and four of its last six games, and opened a short two-game road trip with Sunday's 90-88 victory over the Sacramento Kings at ARCO Arena. Tim Duncan finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds as the Spurs improved to 2-2 away from home this season.
Michael Finley scored 21 points and Roger Mason added 18 for San Antonio, which continues to play without banged-up veterans Manu Ginobili (ankle) and Tony Parker (ankle).
The Spurs will try to reach the .500 mark for the first time this season against a Clippers team they have beaten eight consecutive times. San Antonio has won 16 of 17, 18 of 20 and 21 of the past 24 matchups against the Clippers. It has also won four in a row as the guest in this series.
Los Angeles is only 1-8 on the season and will close out a five-game homestand Monday night versus San Antonio. The Clippers are 1-3 on the residency and dropped a 121-103 decision to the Golden State Warriors on Saturday as Baron Davis did all he could with 25 points and 11 assists against his old team.
Cuttino Mobley scored 19 points while Chris Kaman and Marcus Camby each had a double-double in defeat. Kaman had 15 points and 13 rebounds, and Camby registered 12 points and 11 boards.
The poor-shooting Clippers are 1-6 at home this season. After tonight's game Los Angeles will play three straight and seven of 10 games on the road.
Sacramento, CA (Sports Network) - Tim Duncan finished with 20 points, which included the game's final two baskets, as the San Antonio Spurs held on for a 90-88 win over the Sacramento Kings.
Duncan also had 10 rebounds, while Michael Finley scored 21 for San Antonio, which has won two in a row. Roger Mason added 18 points in the win for the Spurs, who hadn't won two games in a row this season entering Sunday's matchup.
John Salmons led the way with 31 points for the Kings, who have lost two in a row. Beno Udrih had 16 points for Sacramento, while Brad Miller added 10 points and eight rebounds, but missed the potential game-tying shot late in the game.
In a back-and-forth fourth quarter, a Salmons jumper with about 2 1/2 minutes left gave the Kings an 86-84 edge. After a minute passed, Duncan drew a foul, leading to a Finley basket to tie the game.
Udrih was then fouled on a cutting layup attempt with 1:11 on the clock, and made both to put Sacramento back in front. Duncan, though, answered by making a smooth one-handed shot close to the basket, and the Kings called a timeout with 46.5 ticks remaining.
Sacramento missed on its next possession, and Duncan grabbed the rebound, then made a layup on the other end for the 90-88 Spurs lead with less than 15 seconds left.
Miller got the ball on the ensuing Kings possession, but missed badly on his shot from the right side. Duncan grabbed the rebound and was immediately fouled, but missed both shots. Miller got the rebound off the second miss, giving the Kings one last chance, but Quincy Douby's desperation three missed the rim completely, sealing the Spurs' win.
The Spurs struggled offensively in the first quarter, and trailed 23-15 going into the second, where they stormed back to take a 43-42 lead at halftime. The Kings had a double-digit lead in the third quarter, but the Spurs closed out the stanza with an 8-2 run -- ending in a pair of Jacque Vaughn free throws that pulled San Antonio within 72-68 headed into the fourth.
Game Notes
Douby had 12 points in defeat for Sacramento...Vaughn had 10 points for the Spurs, while Matt Bonner finished with 11 and seven boards...Kings guard Kevin Martin has missed the past four games with an ankle injury.