Spurs 119, 76ers 68
PHILADELPHIA -- Center/forward LaMarcus Aldridge scored a season-high 26 points as the San Antonio Spurs embarrassed the woeful Philadelphia 76ers 119-68 Monday night.
The Spurs rested forward/center Tim Duncan and guard Manu Ginobili, and forward Kawhi Leonard did not play because of illness. San Antonio nonetheless shot a season-high 61.8 percent from the floor,and recorded 32 assists on a season-high-tying 46 field goals. The Spurs' point total was also a season high, and they limited the Sixers to their season low.
It was so one-sided that Spurs backup center Boban Marjanovic, a seldom-used 7-foot-3 rookie from Serbia, saw extensive action, scoring a season-high 18 points in a little over 17 minutes. He began the night averaging 1.8 points a game, with a previous high of six.
Aldridge, who made 11 of 15 shots from the floor, also grabbed nine rebounds. Guard Tony Parker collected 12 points while playing only the first half for the Spurs, who improved to 18-4 with their eighth victory in nine games.
Forward Robert Covington, center Nerlens Noel and guard Nik Stauskas each scored 13 points to lead the Sixers. Philadelphia (1-21) lost its third straight since recording its lone victory.
Aldridge generated 20 points and nine boards in the first half, when San Antonio breezed to a 65-39 lead. The Spurs, who trailed briefly early in the game, broke it open by outscoring Philadelphia 21-4 over a six-minute span beginning late in the first quarter and ending early in the second.
Reserve forward David West had six points in that run, which stretched the San Antonio cushion from 21-15 to 42-19.
The Spurs shot a robust 64.3 percent and matched their highest point total for any half this season while limiting the Sixers to 30.8 percent accuracy. Covington had nine first-half points to pace Philadelphia.
NOTES: Before the game the 76ers introduced Hall of Famer Jerry Colangelo as a special adviser to the managing general partner and chairman of basketball operations. Colangelo, 76, is the chairman of the board of directors for USA Basketball, having previously served as that organization's managing director, beginning in 2005. He was also a Phoenix Suns executive from 1968 to 2012. ... Philadelphia co-managing owner Josh Harris said the team is in "deep conversations" with coach Brett Brown about extending his contract beyond the 2016-17 season. Brown confirmed as much and added, "This is where I want to be." ... When asked before the game about F Kawhi Leonard's illness, San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich jokingly said, "I was told he went someplace and got a Philly cheese-steak sandwich." ... Sixers C Jahlil Okafor returned from a two-game disciplinary suspension but did not start because of illness.