San Antonio Spurs Blog – Page 105 – NBA Blog

Spurs recall Darius Washington from D-League

The San Antonio Spurs announced today that they have recalled Darius Washington from the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League.

Washington was signed by the Spurs on October 1. He appeared in 15 games with the Silver and Black, averaging 2.8 points and 1.1 rebounds while shooting .485 from the field, prior to his assignment to the Toros on November 29.

Washington started all four games he appeared in with the Toros, averaging a D-League best 28.2 points, 8.5 rebounds (10th), 6.2 assists (tied for fifth) and 2.0 steals (tied for eighth) in 38.5 minutes of action. The 6-2 guard recorded his first professional triple-double when he finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists vs. Tulsa on December 8.

Washington will join the Spurs tonight for their game at the Los Angeles Lakers.

Celtics, Magic, Spurs and Suns in rare air

NBA News – Boston (15-2), Orlando (16-4), San Antonio (16-3) and Phoenix (15-4) each have a chance of winning at least 20 of their first 25 games. The last time four teams started the season with at least 20 wins in their first 25 games was 1996: Chicago (22-3), Houston (21-4), Detroit (20-5) and Utah (20-5). The last time three teams established the feat was 2004: San Antonio (20-5), Phoenix (22-3) and Seattle (20-5).

Tim Duncan back soon

The Associated Press reports: Tim Duncan most likely will miss no more than a few games after injuring his ankle and knee. The San Antonio Spurs star was hurt against Portland on Sunday, and the team said his MRI came back negative Monday.

Coaches of Month: Rivers, Popovich

The Boston Celtics’ Doc Rivers and the San Antonio Spurs’ Gregg Popovich today were named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month, respectively, for games played in October and November.

Rivers guided the Celtics to a 13-2 (.867) record last month, including eight straight wins to open the season. Boston outscored opponents by a 13.7 ppg margin while holding teams to a .410 field goal percentage. The Celtics recorded a perfect 8-0 mark at TD Banknorth Garden, besting the opposition at home by 21.6 points over that stretch. Owners of the NBA’s top record at month’s end, the Celtics enjoyed the franchise’s best November since 1985-86 when Boston opened 13-1.

Popovich led the Spurs to a 14-3 (.824) record in October and November, tying the franchise record for best start after 17 games, last accomplished in 2005-06. San Antonio, which won five straight from Nov. 16 through Nov. 25, was a perfect 9-0 at AT&T Center. The Spurs committed a league-low 12.0 turnovers per game, including setting a franchise record low with three turnovers in a 128-110 win over Orlando on Nov. 21.

Other nominees for the Coach of the Month were Dallas’ Avery Johnson, Detroit’s Flip Saunders, Houston’s Rick Adelman, Orlando’s Stan Van Gundy, Phoenix’s Mike D’Antoni and Utah’s Jerry Sloan.

Tim Duncan hurt

The Associated Press reports: Tim Duncan bruised his right knee and sprained his right ankle in the first half and did not return to the game. The team said all of Duncan’s ligaments appeared stable but that he would undergo an MRI exam on Monday.

Spurs assign Darius Washington to D-League

The San Antonio Spurs announced today that they have assigned guard Darius Washington to the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League (D-League).

The 6-2, 195-pound Washington has appeared in 15 games for the Spurs, averaging 2.8 points and 1.10 rebounds in 7.5 minutes per contest. He finished with a season-high 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting vs. Milwaukee on Nov. 11.

The University of Memphis product was signed by San Antonio as a free agent on October 1.

Washington is the second player – Ian Mahinmi was assigned on 11/21 – the Spurs have assigned to the Toros since Spurs Sports & Entertainment purchased the Austin franchise on June 28, 2007.

Players of week are L.James, T.Parker

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James and the San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Nov. 19 through Sunday, Nov. 25.

James led the Cavaliers to a 3-1 week averaging 36.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists. He became the first player since Bob Sura (April 9-10, 2004) to post triple-doubles on consecutive nights when he recorded 37 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists in a win over Toronto on Nov. 24, and 30 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in a win at Indiana on Nov. 25. In each of the team’s four games this week, James scored 30-plus points, including a season-high-tying 45 points on Nov. 21 at Minnesota.

Parker led San Antonio to a 4-0 week by averaging 26.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 8.3 assists. He set his season high with 32 points on Nov. 21 in a win over Orlando and twice tied his season high in assists after tallying nine on Nov. 20 at Atlanta and against Orlando on Nov 21.

Other nominees for Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Dallas’ Devin Harris, Golden State’s Baron Davis, Indiana’s Jamaal Tinsley, Milwaukee’s Michael Redd, New Jersey’s Richard Jefferson, Orlando’s Dwight Howard, Phoenix’s Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire, Toronto’s Chris Bosh, and Washington’s Antawn Jamison.

Duncan moves from C to F on All-Star ballot

The San Antonio Express-News reports: If Tim Duncan’s streak of nine-straight All-Star starts ends this season, it won’t be the fault of Internet votes from China. A seven-person media committee placed Duncan among the 12 Western Conference centers on the official ballot for fan voting, but the NBA, with the committee’s blessing, has overturned that decision. Stressing that Duncan had been voted a starting forward the previous nine seasons, the Spurs formally requested that the NBA consider re-categorizing Duncan as a forward. The league made the change late Wednesday afternoon.

The Associated Press reports: Houston center Yao Ming gets overwhelming support from China and has been elected to start every year of his career. He received the highest vote total in history in 2005, and the fourth-highest ever last season. “It’s great that they did that. … It makes total sense and we’re thrilled that they made that change,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said in San Antonio. “That’s what he’s been, he’s been that way (a power forward) for 10 years. There’s no reason to change it.”

Spurs vs Mavs is always a big game

The Dallas Mavericks won their first Southwest Division title last season, unseating the two-time defending Southwest champion San Antonio Spurs. It didn’t stop the Spurs from earning a fourth NBA title. The Texas powerhouses meet for the first time this season tonight (8 p.m. ET, TNT) when the Spurs visit Dallas in search of their fifth straight victory.

Dallas won three of four meetings last season en route to a league-best 67-15 record, ending the Spurs’ reign in the Southwest. The Mavericks, however, were upset in the first round of the playoffs by Golden State. San Antonio, eliminated from the playoffs two seasons ago by Dallas, took advantage and won another NBA title.

Both teams have gotten off to strong starts this season, with the Spurs (7-1) holding the best record in the Western Conference. They made a season-high 13 three-pointers on 27 attempts to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 107-92 on Tuesday for their fifth victory by at least 10 points.

Meanwhile, the Mavericks (5-2) have averaged 106.2 points in winning four of their last five contests. Jason Terry had 25 points – including 12 in the third quarter – as Dallas beat Philadelphia 99-84 on Tuesday. Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki averaged 27.3 points and 8.3 rebounds while shooting 51.7 percent from the field against the Spurs last season. Duncan averaged 19.0 points and 7.5 boards while shooting 51.9 percent against the Mavericks.

– NBA News