Spurs 102, Nets 85
Manu Ginobili scored 22 points and Tim Duncan had 15 points and 11 rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the host New Jersey Nets 102-85 on Monday.
Ginobili made two straight 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to help San Antonio (47-9) break open a close game and cruise past the Nets (17-39).
Tony Parker and George Hill scored 13 points apiece for the Spurs.
The Nets were aiming for a major upset but were thwarted when the Spurs began pulling away with just under 14 minutes left in the contest.
New Jersey trailed just 72-66 after Brook Lopez’s hook shot with 1:47 remaining in the third quarter before San Antonio’s Gary Neal and Hill both hit 3-pointers during a quarter-ending 8-0 run.
San Antonio’s lead reached 20 early in the fourth quarter after back-to-back 3-pointers by Ginobili made it 88-68.
Lopez and Travis Outlaw scored 11 points for New Jersey. Lopez also had 10 rebounds.
DeJuan Blair had 10 points and 11 rebounds for San Antonio, which led by as many as 23 points during the final quarter.
New Jersey shot just 34.8 percent from the field.