Spurs extend winning streak to nine
SPURS 113, RAPTORS 106 KNICKS 100, KINGS 85 PISTONS 98, CELTICS 88
TORONTO — While “Linsanity” consumes the NBA, not too many people are paying attention to San Antonio’s winning streak.
That’s just fine with the Spurs. They don’t mind flying under the radar.
Tony Parker had 34 points and 14 assists, and the Spurs extended their season-best winning streak to nine games with a victory over the Toronto Raptors.
“We’ve been on fire lately,” Parker said. “We’ve been playing very good basketball, moving the ball great.”
But are the Spurs the league’s unsung heroes? Not according to Parker.
“There’s no bigger story than Jeremy Lin right now,” Parker said of the New York Knicks’ sensation. “I’m happy for him. It’s almost like you want to cheer for him. You want him to make every shot. His story is like a movie and he’s performing every night right now.”
Manu Ginobili, who scored 11 points in his third game back after missing a month with a broken left hand, echoed Parker’s comments.
“I think New York deserves all the attention after all they’ve been through and what’s happening right now,” Ginobili said. “They draw attention from me: the New York game finishes and I go to see what they did. It’s crazy.”
Danny Green scored 13 points and matched his career high with seven rebounds and Tiago Splitter also had 13 points for the Spurs, who have not lost since a 101-100 overtime defeat at Dallas on Jan. 29.
Parker went 12 for 12 from the foul line for San Antonio, which last won nine straight during a 10-0 stretch from Dec. 3-22, 2010.
“His 12 for 12 was really exciting because he works a lot on his shot and to have him do that is a real confidence builder,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said.
San Antonio’s Tim Duncan failed to extend his run of five straight double - doubles, finishing with eight points and three rebounds.
NEW YORK — Jeremy Lin put aside his record-setting scoring to hand out a career-best 13 assists, and the New York Knicks got back to .500 with their seventh-straight victory over the Sacramento Kings.
Lin added 10 points, focusing more on his role as a distributor while others torched the Kings for 51 percent shooting. Landry Fields had 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Bill Walker and Steve Novak each chipped in 14 points.
BOSTON — Rodney Stuckey scored 25 points and Ben Gordon hit three 3pointers in the opening 4:09 of the fourth quarter during a game-breaking spree that carried the Detroit Pistons to a win over the Boston Celtics.