National Basketball Association
San Antonio 106, Utah 91
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, April 29, 2012
Where: AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas
Officials:
#27 Dick Bavetta, #13 Monty McCutchen, #71 Rodney Mott
Attendance:
18581
By SportsDirect Inc.
SPURS 106, JAZZ 91: Tony Parker poured in 28 points and Tim Duncan added 17 points and 11 rebounds as San Antonio cruised past visiting Utah in the opener of their first-round playoff series.
The Spurs' dynamic duo was too much for the Jazz to handle, putting together dominant stretches in the middle quarters to overcome an off game from Manu Ginobili and seize the early advantage in the best-of-seven set.
Paul Millsap led the way with 20 points for the Jazz, who will look to even the series Wednesday night in San Antonio.
Up seven at the half, the Spurs maintained their advantage throughout the third quarter thanks to hot shooting from Duncan. The 7-footer made four straight baskets at one point, helping San Antonio extend the lead to double digits.
Stephen Jackson and Matt Bonner then knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers inside the final minute as San Antonio led 85-70 entering the fourth.
Bonner added a 3-pointer midway through the final frame, and the Jazz wouldn't challenge the rest of the way.
Jackson had 14 points in a reserve role while Ginobili scored just seven on 3-for-10 shooting and turned the ball over three times.
Gordon Hayward poured in 17 points and Al Jefferson added 16 in defeat.
The Spurs took charge near the end of the opening quarter, riding an 11-4 run capped by a Bonner 3-pointer to jump out to a 26-19 advantage. Utah closed the gap to two on a Derrick Favors layup with 8:38 left in the second frame, but Parker and Duncan countered by scoring San Antonio's final 15 points of the quarter to send the Spurs into the break ahead 54-47.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Spurs F Tiago Splitter left the game with a sprained left wrist and did not return. He finished with four points and a block in six minutes. ... Jefferson saw his first postseason action since a seven-game stint with the Boston Celtics as a rookie in 2005. ... Hayward made just one 2-point field goal and one 3-pointer, but went 12-for-12 from the free-throw line.
Top Game Performances
Utah |
|
San Antonio |
Paul Millsap 20 |
Scoring |
Tony Parker 28 |
Jamaal Tinsley 5 |
Assists |
Tony Parker 8 |
Al Jefferson 9 |
Rebounds |
Tim Duncan 11 |
Gordon Hayward 12 |
Free Throws Made |
Tony Parker 8 |
Gordon Hayward 2 |
Steals |
DeJuan Blair 2 |
Paul Millsap 3 |
Blocks |
Stephen Jackson 1 |
Team Stats Summary
Team |
Points |
FG% |
3PM-3PA |
FTM-FTA |
Assists |
Rebounds |
Blocks |
Steals |
Turnovers |
Utah
|
91 |
42.1 |
4-13 |
23-30 |
17 |
45 |
8 |
7 |
16 |
San Antonio
|
106 |
47.6 |
6-17 |
20-28 |
25 |
39 |
2 |
10 |
10 |
Upcoming Games
-
San Antonio will play their next game at home against Utah. The Spurs have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.
-
Utah will play their next game on the road against San Antonio. The Jazz have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.