Last month, Tony Parker(notes) was sounding pretty down on the San Antonio Spurs after the Memphis Grizzlies tossed the team out of the playoffs in the first round.

“I don’t think this current team will play for the title in the future,” Parker told French reporters, according to the San Antonio Express-News. “We are aging. We must be realistic. It was sort of our last chance this season.”

Now the 29-year-old who signed an extension last October that has him in a Spurs uniform till 2015 has changed his tune a little bit: “I’m in a great situation,” he said, the paper reports. “I love the Spurs. I love being a Spur. … If I didn’t think we could win a championship, I wouldn’t have re-signed four years.”

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Source: San Antonio Express-News

Related: Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (AFP) – French guard Tony Parker says he still believes the San Antonio Spurs can be NBA champions or he would not have signed a four-year contract extension worth $50 million last month.

The 29-year-old’s belief in the team’s ability to capture the crown was called into question after comments last month in Paris after the Spurs, who led the NBA with 61 wins this season, were ousted by Memphis in round one of the playoffs.

“Newspapers need stories and to talk about stuff. I’m in a great situation to know what it is,” Parker told his Texas audience on Tuesday.

“I love the Spurs. I love being a Spur. I re-signed four years so if I didn’t believe we can win a championship I would not have signed.”

In an article posted on the FIBA website, Parker says, “We will always have a good team but can no longer say we’re playing for a championship.” In an accompanying video, Parker says this season was “sort of our last chance.”

Duncan made similar remarks about time running out before last year’s pre-season training camp. Part of the reasoning behind Parker’s comments was the age of Spurs’ star big man Tim Duncan, 35, and Argentine playmaker Manu Ginobili, who turns 34 in July.

Parker averaged 17.5 points and 6.6 assists for the Spurs last season and said he had no need to back down from what he had said in France.

“I don’t have to justify anything,” Parker said. “Me, bottom line, I love being a Spur and that’s why I signed four more years. I have nothing to justify to you. The only thing I care about is Pop, Timmy and Manu, and my teammates.”

Memphis, in the playoffs for the fourth time in franchise history, had been swept in each of its previous three appearances.

The 12 consecutive playoff game losses before picking up a win is an NBA record.

With that out of the way, the Grizzlies can focus on chasing another piece of history. Memphis is looking to become the fourth No. 8 seed ever to defeat a No. 1 seed, and just second to do so since the first round expanded to a seven-game series.

The Grizzlies got off to a good start stealing Game 1 in San Antonio, becoming just the 10th No. 8 seed to win Game 1 of the first round.

They still have a long way to go as only two of those previous nine teams were able to translate that Game 1 win into a series victory.

The Grizzlies took the lead for good on a three-point field goal by Shane Battier. That was fitting since Battier is the only member of the current Grizzlies to have played in each of the teams’ previous 12 playoff games, during his first stint with the franchise.

It came shortly after the Spurs had used a 13-to-2 run to turn a seven-point Grizzlies lead into a four-point deficit.

During this stretch the Grizzlies missed four free throws, making it appear Memphis’ playoff futility would continue.

But in the final minute Memphis regained its composure ending the game on a 7-0 run.

Instead it was the Spurs playing without Manu Ginobili, their best fourth-quarter scorer during the regular season, who looked new to the playoffs.

So what exactly does this mean for the Spurs in 2011?

Not much – assuming Manu Ginobili is able to return healthy. This is a familiar position for San Antonio who has now lost the series opener in five of its last seven first round playoff series.

The Spurs have come back to win the series on three of those four occasions.

This loss just shows how important Ginobili is to the Spurs, especially against Memphis.

Game tape has shown with Ginobili in the lineup this season, the Spurs averaged 108.9 points per 48 minutes against the Grizzlies, and outscored Memphis by 26 points while he was on the floor.

Without him though, San Antonio shot under 40-percent from the floor, and was outscored by 39 points.

Throughout Ginobili’s career San Antonio is just 1-5 in the playoffs without him, so it is vitally important he return, and soon.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP)—Before the Memphis Grizzlies can think about winning a playoff series, they first have to take one small step.

Win a postseason game.

The Grizzlies enter their series against the San Antonio Spurs with the dubious record of being swept out of the first round in all three of their previous playoff appearances.

At 0-12, it’s some heavy baggage. Depending on which Memphis player is answering the question, it is a record that can be tough to ignore.

“We’re very aware of it,” guard Tony Allen(notes) said after practice Friday. “They have been ranting about it all year. We’ve gotten our short-term goal (making the playoffs) out of the way, and now it’s time to make some noise in this postseason.”

To do that, Memphis will have to beat a Spurs team that finished with the second-best record in the league.

San Antonio, the top seed in the Western Conference, hosts the eighth-seeded Grizzlies for the first two games starting Sunday before the series moves back to Memphis for Games 3 and 4.

The Grizzlies hope they get a second look at the city of San Antonio this series because that means they will have accomplished the goal of winning a playoff game, something this franchise has yet to do in making the postseason three straight seasons starting in 2004.

The Spurs were the first team to sweep the Grizzlies out of the postseason in 2004, and the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks followed the next two postseasons in needing only four games to advance to the conference semifinals. It’s not the kind of mark any NBA team wants.

Center Tim Duncan(notes) was part of the Spurs team that swept Memphis in 2004, but was surprised when asked about the Grizzlies still looking for their first playoff win.

“Wow. But I don’t think that means anything,” Duncan said. “This isn’t a team that’s played the last 20 years, or however old that franchise is. This is a brand-new team for them, and they’ve been playing well. They’re pretty confident in what they do. History doesn’t matter right now.”

Memphis is 13-8 since starting March with a 109-83 win over the Spurs, a stretch that also includes a 111-104 win over San Antonio on March 27.

Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins notes these are different players than the previous teams, a group that plays harder and tougher.

Point guard Mike Conley(notes) insists they aren’t thinking about that 0-12 record in the postseason.

“We’re worrying about this team. This team hasn’t been 0-12. We haven’t lost 12 straight playoff games. We haven’t even been in the playoffs as a team,” he said.

“We’re just thinking of this as our first opportunity to get out here and show people what we can do, and not just win a game. We want to win a series. We’ve got to keep our minds set on that and not worrying about a winless streak that’s been going on for the organization.”

The Grizzlies have some confidence from splitting the regular-season series with the Spurs, and Manu Ginobili(notes) is doubtful for Sunday.

Hollins was criticized for sitting Zach Randolph(notes) and Allen in the Grizzlies’ final two games, with some complaining he passed up the chance for a higher seed while others said he was trying to avoid playing the defending champion Lakers. Hollins defended the decision, saying he wanted his players rested for the postseason.

Allen said the plan is to not get hung up on winning just a game, not when there are bigger goals.

“We plan on winning this series and plan on getting to the next series,” Allen said. “In order to do that, we have to take it one game at a time. Come in with great focus and just stay together, and knowing it’s going to be a hostile environment down there. Just be ready for whatever comes our way.”

PHOENIX — The San Antonio Spurs lost a shot at home-court advantage throughout the playoffs and saw a grimacing Manu Ginobili leave the court in pain early in the game.

Not exactly a beautiful ending to a powerful regular season.

“Now,” coach Gregg Popovich said, “the fun starts.”

Despite the 106-103 loss to Phoenix on Wednesday night, the Spurs are the No. 1 seed in the West and early indications were that Ginobili’s hyperextended elbow wasn’t serious.

Popovich sat Ginobili, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker in a loss to the Lakers in Los Angeles on Tuesday night, but all three were in the starting lineup Wednesday.

“You can’t predict anything and there’s no reason to second guess and I don’t think any one of us are going to do that,” Duncan said. “Luckily, it’s not serious and hopefully he can be ready to go once the playoff starts. You cross your fingers, you hope for that, and you move on.”

The Spurs move on to a first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies, a team that seemed to want to face San Antonio.

“They sat their guys for the last three or four games,” Duncan said. “They’re trying to stay where they’re at. Obviously, they’ve chosen their matchup and want to stick with it.”

Marcin Gortat had 21 points and 13 rebounds to help the Suns avoid being swept in the four-game regular season series.

The Spurs, at 61-21, finished a game behind Chicago for the best record in the NBA.

Had San Antonio and the Bulls finished tied and faced each other in the NBA finals, home-court advantage would have been determined by a random drawing because all other tiebreakers were equal.

Ginobili went down with 9:46 left in the first quarter. The star guard slid to the floor near the San Antonio free throw line, then the Suns’ Grant Hill fell on top of him.

X-rays for a more serious injury were negative. An MRI was planned Thursday.

Ginobili, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker sat out the Spurs’ 102-93 loss to the Lakers in Los Angeles on Tuesday but all three were in the starting lineup against Phoenix. Duncan had 17 points and 12 rebounds in 31 minutes. Parker scored 12 points on 4-of-12 shooting in 25 minutes. Neither were on the court when the game ended.

“Tony’s been under the weather. He got 25 minutes so I thought that was about enough for him,” coach Gregg Popovich said. “We got Timmy about 30 so that was good. They needed to get a good run and they did so they could keep a rhythm. And then you like to win, but we didn’t and that’s the way it goes.”

Channing Frye and Jared Dudley scored 17 apiece for the Suns.

“We’ve kind of had our fans on the emotional roller coaster this year,” Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry said, “where we played well and then we struggled then we played well.”

Phoenix failed to make the playoffs for the second time in three years after a surprise run to the Western Conference finals a year ago, which included a second-round sweep of San Antonio.

“It’s been a long year so to finish it off with a couple of victories was good,” the Suns’ Steve Nash said. “I think it was important for us too for our psyche. It’s a good feeling amidst a lot of disappointment.”

Nash, with one year left on his contract with Phoenix, said he has no desire to play elsewhere.

“This is my team,” he said.

The Suns shot out to a 17-point lead in the first quarter Wednesday night and the Spurs never could catch them.

After shooting 65 percent in the first 12 minutes (17 of 26), the Suns made 20 percent (5 of 25) in the second to lead 61-53 at the break.

San Antonio cut it to 66-63 on Parker’s short jumper three minutes into the second half, but an 11-1 Phoenix run made it 77-64 when Dudley made a pair of free throws with 5:01 to play in the period.

Down 85-74 after three, the Spurs came back to make it a free throw shootout down the stretch. Aaron Brooks sank two from the line to put Phoenix ahead 106-103 with 3.9 seconds to go. Gary Neal threw up an airball from the corner for San Antonio just before the buzzer.

NOTES: Hill became the seventh player in NBA history to average at least 13 points at age 38 or older. … Ginobili missed two games this season, only one because of injury: March 28 against Portland because of a bruised left quad. … Nash led the NBA in assists for the fifth time, joining John Stockton and Jason Kidd as the only players to do so. … San Antonio had the best record in the West for the sixth time in franchise history – five of them with Duncan. … The Suns won 40 games for the seventh straight season.

Just a year after the Suns vanquished the San Antonio monster in the playoffs, the Spurs are back to ending the season for the Suns.

San Antonio Spurs is the West’s top team and haven’t yet lost 20 games on the season. They’re still fighting the Bulls for the #1 overall seed but look to be in good shape of at least earning a tie with them for the top spot where tie breakers would determine who has home court should they meet each other in the Finals.

Recently, the Spurs have bounced back from their 6 game skids to win 4 consecutive games and look to be primed for the playoffs. They’re a veteran team with no real injuries on their roster and have experience in navigating a tough playoff field. At this point in the season, they’re where everyone else wants to be. They’ve earned it, so kudos to them.

The Suns closed the Spurs’ season last year with a second-round sweep that was as sweet as cane sugar for Phoenix, given four arduous playoff exits to the black and silver dating to 2003.

It’s funny how things work out.

Well, if you’re an inhabitant of Planet Orange, maybe it isn’t that funny.

But a year ago at about this time the Suns were in the playoffs, where they would sweep the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals and supposedly exorcise all sorts of playoff demons.

Wednesday night, the Suns play out the string on a season that lost its soul against those same Spurs, and the Suns only can wish there were playoff demons to worry about.

The Spurs?

Oh, they’ve wrapped up the top seed in the Western Conference and might not even need to play their stars Wednesday night unless there are still best-record-in-the-NBA ramifications.

There’s a lesson in patience here.

Those 2009-10 Suns played the Lakers in the conference finals and were within a crazy offensive rebound by a crazy player from taking a 3-2 lead in that series with Game 6 in Phoenix.

Of course, Ron Artest broke their hearts, the Lakers closed them out en route to another championship and Artest auctioned off his ring.

The Spurs, meanwhile, were viewed as a team on the slide.

Tim Duncan was old and on wobbly legs. Manu Ginobili’s bald spot was expanding faster than the hole in the ozone layer. Richard Jefferson wasn’t the fit everybody expected.

Nobody knew it yet, but Tony Parker’s personal life would make headlines.

The Spurs didn’t panic.

In fact, their coach, Gregg Popovich, graciously congratulated the Suns and particularly playmaker Steve Nash.

And he said of his own team, with Duncan then 34, Ginobili 32 and Antonio McDyess 35: “I would go with these guys again.”

And he did, tweaking the roster but keeping the core, opening up the offense and sticking with Jefferson.

The Suns, who have undergone more makeovers than the cast of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” went under the knife two more times.

Of the top eight players in the Suns’ playoff rotation last season, four remain.

All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire’s departure is the most notable, of course. Jason Richardson was a big-time scorer. Leandro Barbosa was capable of having big nights off the bench.

Goran Dragic looked like the team’s future at point guard.

Heck, even Robin Lopez was playing pretty well in the playoffs.

Oh, wait. He’s still down there somewhere at the end of the bench.

Anyway, of the top eight players in the Spurs’ playoff rotation last season all eight remain with the team.

That’s how the Spurs operate. That’s why in the Duncan era they have won at least 50 games every season except in the lockout-shortened 1999 year, when they won 37 of 50 and the NBA championship.

That’s 14 consecutive seasons in the playoffs.

It’s why they have four championships, three after the transition from a good run with the core of Duncan, David Robinson, Avery Johnson and Sean Elliott to one of Duncan, Parker and Ginobili.

Sure, they had the good fortune – or possibly forethought – to have Duncan fall to them.

But the Suns were in a great spot when they plucked Nash from Dallas in free agency, too.

Since then, their core has changed more often than Jessica Simpson’s.

They’re also on their fourth general manager and third coach in the seven seasons since Robert Sarver and his investment group took over.

On the flip side, Popovich was looking for his 798th victory as San Antonio’s coach Tuesday night against the Lakers. He moved past Boston’s Red Auerbach this season for the second-most victories with the same team.

Only Jerry Sloan, who walked away in Utah this season, has more wins with one team than “Pop.”

There’s a lot to be said for sticking with something that works.

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SAN ANTONIO — Richard Jefferson said the San Antonio Spurs want to finish with the NBA’s best record. Then someone told him how many more victories it could take to assure that.

“We got to win two more?” Jefferson said.

They’ll try, but the Spurs have other priorities.

Jefferson scored 20 points and the Spurs, mindful of the playoffs starting next weekend, won their fourth in a row while starting to rest some players in a 111-102 win over the Utah Jazz on Saturday night.

San Antonio (61-19) has already locked up the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, and, with two games left, are 1 ½ games ahead of Chicago for the NBA’s best record. Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker all started and played more than 20 minutes while Antonio McDyess got the night off.

Coach Gregg Popovich said he’s “certainly not going to overplay anybody” with the playoffs starting next week but also doesn’t want to fall out of rhythm..

“We’ve played this well all season long we’d love to finish out atop the NBA,” said Duncan, who had 10 points. “We’re going to try to do the best of managing minutes and winning games and doing that all at the same time.”

Al Jefferson scored 23 points as the Jazz lost for the 10th time in 11 games, unable to pull a second upset this week after beating the Los Angeles Lakers.

That stunner Wednesday is what clinched the fifth No. 1 seed for the Spurs in the Tim Duncan era. The Spurs visit the Lakers on Tuesday, but with little at stake, the game hardly figures to be a potential Western Conference finals preview.

The Jazz, who won’t be in the playoffs for the first time in five years, just want to get through their season finale Wednesday.

Coach Tyrone Corbin had only 10 healthy players and guessed it might stay that way in their final two games. Derrick Favors scored 17 points and Paul Millsap added 16.

“We gotta finish this season with our head up high and have some pride for ourselves. We just ain’t going out here and lay down,” Al Jefferson said. “We’re going to play hard. I really thought we had a chance to win the game tonight. We just made too many mistakes.”

Ginobili had 12 points in 27 minutes and Parker had 13 in 29 minutes. Both played into the fourth when the Jazz crept within single digits.

Utah trailed by 11 at halftime but quickly fell behind in the third, when San Antonio stretched the lead to 17 while shooting 12 of 15 from the field.

Richard Jefferson put together his first 20-point game since November by shooting 6 of 10 from the field and hitting four 3-pointers. His most memorable play, however, came on an alley-oop dunk from Gary Neal moments after George Hill wowed the crowd with an impressive one-handed dunk over Earl Watson.

Who the Spurs will meet in the first round is still up in the air. Memphis held the No. 8 seed on Saturday but was a game behind New Orleans, which faces the Grizzlies on Sunday. Portland, currently holding the No. 6 spot, could also drop to the final slot.

“You take whoever comes,” Jefferson said.

Devin Harris added 13 points for Utah on just 3 of 11 shooting. He also took two tumbles into the front row, the second time into a young fan. A member of the Spurs’ training staff went over to check on the boy, who appeared to be OK.

Harris gave the boy a token of apology: his wristband.

• NOTES: Popovich needs three wins to reach 800 with the Spurs. … San Antonio swept the season series 3-0 over Utah. … The Spurs must win their final two games (Lakers, Phoenix) to match their franchise-record 63 wins set in 2005-06.

• Bucks 108, Cavaliers 101: At Milwaukee, Drew Gooden had his first career triple-double and John Salmons scored 32 points for Milwaukee.

Gooden had 15 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists for the Bucks, hitting double-digits in all three stat categories in the middle of the third quarter.

Baron Davis scored 19 points and Ramon Sessions added 15 for the Cavaliers in a matchup between two teams that have been eliminated from playoff contention.

Although the game certainly didn’t mean anything in terms of the playoffs, Gooden — who missed a large chunk of the season due to plantar fasciitis in his left foot — showed the Bucks what he can do when he’s healthy.

• Rockets 99, Clippers 78: At Houston, Chase Budinger, Kevin Martin and Brad Miller scored 16 points apiece and Chuck Hayes had 12 points and 13 rebounds to lead Houston.

Goran Dragic had 14 points, seven assists and a career-high 10 rebounds in his first start for the Rockets since he was acquired from Phoenix at the trade deadline.

The Rockets played well one night after they were eliminated from playoff contention. They also played without injured starters Kyle Lowry (bone bruise in left foot) and Luis Scola (sore left knee).

Eric Gordon scored 19 points and Blake Griffin had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers.

• Wizards 115, Hawks 83: At Washington, Andray Blatche scored 23 points, John Wall had 19, and Washington dealt playoff-bound Atlanta its fourth straight loss.

The reeling Hawks, who are set to play Orlando in the first round, are heading into the postseason in less than ideal shape.

The Wizards broke a 12-game losing streak against Atlanta, have won four of six and are probably playing their best this season. They have just 10 healthy players — including five rookies and three who played in the NBA D-League this season.

Al Horford led the Hawks with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Joe Johnson had 16 as coach Larry Drew pulled his starters early in the fourth quarter.

• Nuggets 130, Timberwolves 106: At Denver, Ty Lawson made his first 10 3-pointers and scored a career-high 37 points in leading the short-handed Denver Nuggets to a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Lawson, who was banged up from Denver’s rough-and-tumble loss at Oklahoma City one night before, didn’t score until sinking a pair of free throws at the 6-minute mark of the second quarter.

He then hit 10-of-11 from beyond the arc, including six during a 9-minute stretch spanning halftime that turned a tight game (41-39) into a laugher.

Martell Webster and Lazar Hayward led the Timberwolves with 15 points each.

Minnesota was without injured All-Star Kevin Love (groin) and center Darko Milicic (left ankle) again.

Jefferson scored 20 points and the Spurs, mindful of the playoffs starting next weekend, won their fourth in a row while starting to rest some players in a 111-102 win over the Utah Jazz on Saturday night.

San Antonio (61-19) has already locked up the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, and, with two games left, are 1½ games ahead of Chicago for the NBA’s best record. Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker all started and played more than 20 minutes while Antonio McDyess got the night off.

Coach Gregg Popovich said he’s “certainly not going to overplay anybody” with the playoffs starting next week but also doesn’t want to fall out of rhythm.

“We’ve played this well all season long we’d love to finish out atop the NBA,” said Duncan, who had 10 points. “We’re going to try to do the best of managing minutes and winning games and doing that all at the same time.”

Al Jefferson scored 23 points as the Jazz lost for the 10th time in 11 games, unable to pull a second upset this week after beating the Los Angeles Lakers.

That stunner Wednesday is what clinched the fifth No. 1 seed for the Spurs in the Tim Duncan era. The Spurs visit the Lakers on Tuesday, but with little at stake, the game hardly figures to be a potential Western Conference finals preview.

The Jazz, who won’t be in the playoffs for the first time in five years, just want to get through their season finale Wednesday.

Coach Tyrone Corbin had only 10 healthy players and guessed it might stay that way in their final two games. Derrick Favors scored 17 points and Paul Millsap added 16.

“We gotta finish this season with our head up high and have some pride for ourselves. We just ain’t going out here and lay down,” Al Jefferson said. “We’re going to play hard. I really thought we had a chance to win the game tonight. We just made too many mistakes.”

Ginobili had 12 points in 27 minutes and Parker had 13 in 29 minutes. Both played into the fourth when the Jazz crept within single digits.

Utah trailed by 11 at halftime but quickly fell behind in the third, when San Antonio stretched the lead to 17 while shooting 12 of 15 from the field.

Richard Jefferson put together his first 20-point game since November by shooting 6 of 10 from the field and hitting four 3-pointers. His most memorable play, however, came on an alley-oop dunk from Gary Neal moments after George Hill wowed the crowd with an impressive one-handed dunk over Earl Watson.

Who the Spurs will meet in the first round is still up in the air. Memphis held the No. 8 seed on Saturday but was a game behind New Orleans, which faces the Grizzlies on Sunday. Portland, currently holding the No. 6 spot, could also drop to the final slot.

“You take whoever comes,” Jefferson said.

Devin Harris added 13 points for Utah on just 3 of 11 shooting. He also took two tumbles into the front row, the second time into a young fan. A member of the Spurs’ training staff went over to check on the boy, who appeared to be OK.

Harris gave the boy a token of apology: his wristband.

Notes

• Popovich needs three wins to reach 800 with the Spurs.
• San Antonio swept the season series 3-0 over Utah.
• The Spurs must win their final two games (Lakers, Phoenix) to match their franchise-record 63 wins set in 2005-06.

SAN ANTONIO — Richard Jefferson scored 20 points and the San Antonio Spurs began resting up with the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference secured, beating the Utah Jazz 111-102 on Saturday night.

The Spurs (61-19) have two games left and are 1 1/2 games ahead of Chicago for the NBA’s best record. Protecting that lead will likely fall to the bench as San Antonio focuses on keeping fresh for the playoffs.

DeJuan Blair had 12 points starting in place of Antonio McDyess, who got the night off. Coach Gregg Popovich said he won’t be overplaying anybody through the next week.

Al Jefferson led Utah with 23 points. The Jazz lost for the 10th time in 11 games, unable to pull a second upset this week after beating the Los Angeles Lakers.

The San Antonio Spurs snapped a four-game losing streak on the road with a 97-90 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday.
“Finally,” said Spurs guard Tony Parker. “It was a big win for the team and our confidence and to prepare ourselves for the playoffs.”
The victory allows the league leading Spurs (59-19) to maintain their grip on home court advantage throughout the playoffs.
They remain 1-1/2 games ahead of the Eastern Conference leading Chicago Bulls, who beat the Phoenix Suns 97-94.
Manu Ginobili scored 12 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Spurs,
who held a one point advantage at the end of the third quarter.
Atlanta seized control of a see-sawing first quarter with an 11-2 run late in the period.
They built an 11-point lead in the second quarter but the Spurs pushed back with a 12-4 run at the end of the period to narrow Atlanta’s lead to 46-43 at halftime.
San Antonio completed the comeback and took the lead on two free throws by Parker in the third quarter. Atlanta briefly regained the lead but Parker put the Spurs ahead for good with a short jump shot with four minutes left in the third.
“I think they picked up the tempo a little bit and it took us out of some things we wanted to run and how we wanted to do it,” said Hawks center Al Horford.
“They’re just a great defensive team. They have a lot of guards that just keep attacking you in different ways.”
Parker led the Spurs with 26 points while Tim Duncan added 17 points. Joe Johnson led the Hawks with 21 points and Jamal Crawford scored 20 points off the bench.

Rookie Hayward powers Jazz past Lakers

Rookie Gordon Hayward hit the game-winning free throw with six seconds left and scored a career-high 22 points as the Utah Jazz edged the Los Angeles Lakers 86-85 Tuesday.
Paul Millsap scored 22 points for the Jazz, who halted an eight-game losing streak with the victory at Staples Center arena.
The Jazz had a five-point lead before Kobe Bryant helped Los Angeles storm back with two three-point shots late in the game.
Bryant finished with 20 points and hit a tying three-pointer with 16 seconds left. Bryant then tried to beat the buzzer with a drive to the basket but fumbled the ball away.
With their second consecutive defeat following a 17-1 stretch, the Lakers may have lost the chance to catch San Antonio at the top of the National Basketball Association’s Western Conference standings.
San Antonio have a 3 ½-game lead with five games remaining for the Lakers.

By Justin Burning – Editor

Read More: Steve Nash (G – PHO), Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers

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Apr 6, 2011 - Welcome to the second-to-last edition of the NBA Power Rankings, which will also serve as the official “Adios, playoffs!” Phoenix Suns Edition. With their loss to the San Antonio Spurs, Steve Nash and the Suns are out of the postseason picture (even though Nash didn’t play that game, and that likely contributed heavily to the outcome). It would be great to say this was a memorable season for Phoenix, but it wasn’t. In fact, it was pretty miserable overall outside of the acquisition of Marcin Gortat, the development of Channing Frye, and that’s about it. There are only five players left from last year’s Western Conference Finals roster. Insert sadness here.

As a result of Phoenix’s disappointing play (including losing five of their last six games), the Suns have slid down most of the Power Rankings, generally into the bottom halves with the rest of the lottery teams. Another fun Suns stat: Phoenix has only been to the lottery four times since 1988. That’s a lot of successful that serves to emphasize just how unsuccessful this season has been. They’re also entering the lottery in a consensus weak draft. Anyway, that’s probably enough purple-and-orange pessimism for this edition of the Power Rankings.

In a somewhat shocking turn of events, the San Antonio Spurs’ once-insurmountable lead in the Western Conference standings is dwindling, thanks to the Spurs losing half of their games in March and the Los Angeles Lakers winning all but one of theirs. The Lakers are unlikely to actually pass the Spurs, but it just illustrates how swiftly a team’s fortunes can change heading into the postseason. While the Spurs’ big men have struggled, Lakers center Andrew Bynum has been playing relatively inspired basketball. If he can stay on the court, this may be the year he finally has a huge impact in the playoffs.

Perhaps the biggest post-All Star Break shocker, however, is how well the Denver Nuggets are playing without Carmelo Anthony. They were left for dead after the trade, but they decided not to cooperate and are 15-4 since. The Nuggets, the fifth seed with a clinched playoff berth, are hovering in the top five in most rankings thanks to their hot streak.

Sorry, back to the woes of the Phoenix Suns: departed free agent All-Star Amare Stoudemire helped the New York Knicks get back into the playoffs (oddly enough, in spite of the Anthony acquisition), though the team is hardly considered a powerhouse, currently sitting at .500 and having their recent three-game winning streak preceded by an embarrassing six-game losing streak.

On to the rankings:

SBNation.com | NBA Power Rankings: Bulls Lead, Heat And Lakers Chase
The Chicago Bulls maintain their reign over SBNation.com’s NBA Power Rankings as we move into the final week of the regular season. The Spurs recovered with a win Sunday to snap a six-game losing streak, but the Bulls, Heat, Lakers and Celtics have got to be feeling as if the NBA Championship is within reach. Can the Nuggets join the party? Are the Mavericks toast? Let’s sort it all out.

NBA.com | Nuggets earn a spot in the top five
At this point last year, the Chicago Bulls trailed the Toronto Raptors by a game for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Right now, things are a little different. The Charlotte Bobcats, Milwaukee Bucks and Houston Rockets are technically still alive, but the 16 teams making the playoffs are very close to being set.

ESPN.com | Power Rankings: Lakers still have top spot
There is no change at the top in the season’s second-to-last batch of weekly NBA Power Rankings at ESPN.com. The rest of the top 10, though, has been given a good shuffle.

SI.com | NBA Power Rankings: ‘Melo-less Nuggets surge to No. 4
The Nuggets’ resurgence is the best story in the NBA, and there is the tantalizing prospect that it is going to get much, much better in the weeks ahead.

CBSSports.com | Power Rankings: Celebrating season’s biggest disappointments
So as we embark on the first full week of April, it’s appropriate that we celebrate … the losers. Yep, it’s time to identify the NBA’s 2010-11 Most Disappointing Team. Here are the candidates.

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ATLANTA (Reuters) – The San Antonio Spurs snapped a four-game losing streak on the road with a 97-90 win over the Atlanta Hawks Tuesday.

“Finally,” said Spurs guard Tony Parker. “It was a big win for the team and our confidence and to prepare ourselves for the playoffs.”

The victory allows the league leading Spurs (59-19) to maintain their grip on home court advantage throughout the playoffs.

They remain 1- games ahead of the Eastern Conference leading Chicago Bulls, who beat the Phoenix Suns 97-94.

Manu Ginobili scored 12 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Spurs, who held a one point advantage at the end of the third quarter.

Atlanta seized control of a see-sawing first quarter with an 11-2 run late in the period.

They built an 11-point lead in the second quarter but the Spurs pushed back with a 12-4 run at the end of the period to narrow Atlanta’s lead to 46-43 at halftime.

San Antonio completed the comeback and took the lead on two free throws by Parker in the third quarter. Atlanta briefly regained the lead but Parker put the Spurs ahead for good with a short jump shot with four minutes left in the third.

“I think they picked up the tempo a little bit and it took us out of some things we wanted to run and how we wanted to do it,” said Hawks center Al Horford.

“They’re just a great defensive team. They have a lot of guards that just keep attacking you in different ways.”

Parker led the Spurs with 26 points while Tim Duncan added 17 points. Joe Johnson led the Hawks with 21 points and Jamal Crawford scored 20 points off the bench.

(Reporting by Mike Mouat in Windsor, Ontario. Editing by Greg Stutchbury)