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Spurs 112, Mavericks 106
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
SAN ANTONIO — Tony Parker, back in the San Antonio lineup after missing six games, scored 22 points and handed out seven assists as the Spurs defeated the Dallas Mavericks 112-106 Sunday night.
San Antonio (43-16) won for the sixth time in seven games. Dallas (36-25) lost to the Spurs for the eighth consecutive meeting.
Parker, the Spurs’ point guard, was assigned to the bench by coach Gregg Popovich during recent games to allow him to recover from mental fatigue and a variety of nagging injuries.
The rest apparently helped. Parker looked fresh down the stretch, making a driving layup that gave the Spurs a seven-point lead with 45 seconds left.
Forward Tim Duncan produced 17 points and nine rebounds for the Spurs, and forward Kawhi Leonard scored 16 points.
San Antonio reserve forward Boris Diaw contributed 14 points and 10 rebounds. Guard Manu Ginobili, also a sub, scored all 15 of his points in the second half. He also had seven assists.
Forward Dirk Nowitzki led Dallas with 22 points, one more than guard Vince Carter’s total. Mavericks guard Monta Ellis scored 17.
Parker was dazzling early, scoring 10 points in the first eight minutes. He displayed his usual array of driving shots and also made a 3-point basket.
The Spurs took leads of nine points in the first quarter and 10 in the second, but they never could maintain separation. Turnovers reduced that possibility.
San Antonio gave the ball away seven times in the second period, and the Mavs turned those into seven points.
Parker scored just two more points in the half after the 10 early ones. Meanwhile, Carter came off the Dallas bench to contribute 15 in the half — 11 during the second quarter.
Ginobili took care of separation pretty much by himself in the third quarter. He scored the last 10 points of the period, giving the Spurs a 78-70 lead. Ginobili made two 3-point baskets and four free throws during that stretch.
NOTES: Dallas recalled rookie G Shane Larkin and second-year F Jae Crowder from the Texas Legends in the NBA Development League. They shuttled recently between the Mavericks and the Legends to get playing time. Neither got off the bench Sunday night. … The Spurs were 5-1 in games without G Tony Parker, who was ordered to rest up by coach Gregg Popovich. Included were victories at the Los Angeles Clippers and Portland. The only defeat was at Phoenix. … The Mavs lost to the Chicago Bulls 100-91 Friday in Dallas after blowing a 16-point, second-quarter lead, marking their sixth defeat this season after squandering an advantage that big. … The Spurs’ last two victories without Parker were attained largely through big second halves by G Manu Ginobili. The Spurs’ reserve scored all 16 of his points in the second half against the Detroit Pistons. He scored 13 of his 15 in the second half against the Charlotte Bobcats as the Spurs erased a 14-point second-quarter deficit.
