Spurs Swat Bulls
The San Antonio Spurs had a block party on Friday, tying a franchise record with 20 blocked shots in a 101-78 victory over the Chicago Bulls.
Tim Duncan scored 23 points and had a career-high eight blocks to lead the Spurs to their fourth straight victory.
"All of our guys worked hard on the weakside defense," said San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich, whose team has yet to allow 100 points in a game this season. "We're blessed that all four work so hard and so well. It showed up in the blocks tonight."
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"Tim (Duncan) comes to compete, that's his job," Popovich said. "He doesn't care who is on the court."
Chicago, which has now lost six straight games, was led by rookie Elton Brand's 24 points.
"Tonight the Spurs played terrific," Chicago coach Tim Floyd said. "They played like a team with confidence like you would expect a championship team would. At the end of the game they went to their go-to player, and he is one of the best I have ever seen in this game."
San Antonio, which has won 19 straight games at the Alamodome, played most of the second half without the services of David Robinson, who left the game early in the third quarter suffering from neck spasms.
"There was a little leftover irritation from the other night when I hurt it," said Robinson, who had 10 points before leaving the game. "It was irritating me and I couldn't turn my head one way. I can't play like that."
Trailing 48-32 at halftime, Chicago took advantage of Robinson's absence, outscoring SaAntonio 14-4 to close to within three on a Michael Ruffin dunk with 4:29 to play in the third quarter.
San Antonio answered with a 14-6 run to end the quarter, including six by Duncan, to take a 71-60 lead after three periods.
Chicago could get no closer than nine points in the fourth quarter as Terry Porter scored seven of his 11 points in the final period.
Shooting 51.4 percent from the field, San Antonio led by as many as 23 points in the game.
"We have the hype, that's what goes with having superstars," said Spurs guard Avery Johnson, who contributed 10 points and five assists. "Tim's game is always raised. He is always playing above and beyond. But still we know we can't slip too far."
Notes
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