Spurs 102, Nets 75
SAN ANTONIO -- The San Antonio Spurs led by F Kawhi Leonard's 16 points -- all in the first three quarters, got double-figure scoring from six players and rode a stout defense and a balanced attack to a 102-75 victory against the Brooklyn Nets Friday in the Spurs' home opener.
Trailing by five points entering the third quarter, San Antonio got four straight baskets from G Tony Parker and two from Leonard. The Spurs outscored Brooklyn 34-17 in the quarter and then began the fourth period with 16-4 run to put the game out of reach.
Forward Tim Duncan added 15 points for San Antonio (1-1), while guard Mano Ginobili had 12, guard Patty Mills scored 11, and Parker and forward LaMarcus Aldridge had 10 apiece. The Spurs shot 46.5 percent from the floor and made all 13 of their free throws.
San Antonio allowed Brooklyn just 28 points in the second half as the Nets shot 40 percent from the floor.
Center Brook Lopez led the Nets (0-2) with 17 points, while guard Jarrett Jack added 12 and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had 10 for Brooklyn.
San Antonio showcased its depth by sending 11 players to the floor in the first quarter but it was Duncan, its stalwart and elder statesman at 39 years old, who had six points and led the team in scoring in the period.
A bucket by the Nets' forward Thaddeus Young with 42 seconds remaining handed Brooklyn a short-lived advantage, 21-20.
But the Spurs responded. Ginobili's driving hook shot and a 3-pointer at the horn by reserve guard Rasual Butler off a Ginobili feed gave San Antonio a 25-20 at the end of one quarter.
Brooklyn outscored the Spurs 20-6 over the first six minutes of the second quarter and led 41-31 when Jack hit a jumper at the 5:42 mark. Aldridge brought San Antonio back to within 43-39 on a dunk off an offensive rebound with 1:24 to play in the quarter.
Jumpers by Jack and Young stretched the Nets' advantage back to 47-39.
Ginobili had the last word of the half, pouring in a 3-pointer as the clock expired to give the Spurs some life heading into the locker room and cutting the deficit to 47-42.
Parker and Leonard turned up the heat to open the third quarter, hitting the Spurs' first six baskets to bring San Antonio back to within 55-54.
Spurs guard Danny Green and the Nets' Jack traded 3s before San Antonio raced away on an 11-2 run that placed the game firmly in the Spurs' command.
NOTES: The Spurs and Nets split their two games last season. ... Brooklyn F Thomas Robinson and San Antonio F LaMarcus Aldridge were teammates with Portland in 2013-14. ... Nets coach Lionel Hollins and Spurs coach Gregg Popovich were both head coaches in the first NBA game in Africa on Aug. 1, 2015. ... F Matt Bonner is now two games into his 12th professional season and is just the sixth player in Spurs history to have spent 10 consecutive years with the franchise. ... G Tony Parker missed a team practice Friday morning when he had to reverse his route to the Spurs practice facility because torrential overnight and early-morning rains flooded the road he usually takes to the gym. ... The Nets open the season by playing seven of their first 10 games on the road. ... The average age for the Nets' opening night roster is 25.8 years old. Last season, the average age was 28.1 and it was 29.5 in 2013-14. ... Spurs F Kawhi Leonard recorded his regular-season career-high 32 points in San Antonio's loss to Oklahoma City Oct. 28.