Friday, Nov. 7, 2008

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Being 0-3 really bothered Tony Parker.

Going baseline: Toronto's Jose Calderon drives on Detroit's Rodney Stuckey in first-half action on Wednesday night. The Pistons won 100-93. AP PHOTO

The San Antonio Spurs needed every last layup and feathery jumper from the fast-moving Frenchman, whose unstoppable performance was just enough to fuel their first win.

Parker scored a career-high 55 points, including a 20-footer at the buzzer to force a second overtime, in San Antonio's 129-125 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night.

The Spurs avoided an 0-4 start for the first time since 1973, when they still played in the ABA.

"I just wanted to win so bad. I was going to try to do everything I can," said Parker, whose previous best was a 38-point effort in January 2006 at Miami. "It's just one of those games. Everything you do, it works. . . . Obviously, everybody knows if I make my jump shots, I can do whatever I want. Tonight was just one of those games that everything was working."

After Al Jefferson backed down Tim Duncan and sank a turnaround hook to put Minnesota up 116-114 with 2 1/2 seconds left in the first overtime, Parker took the inbounds pass, dribbled right, pump-faked once and let the ball fly.

Swish.

He let a sly smile creep across his normally stone face as the Wolves trudged back to the bench.

Jefferson, who had 30 points and 14 rebounds, paused to sit on the scorer's table before play resumed and just shook his head as if to say, "What more can we do?"

Mike Miller had 12 of his 25 points in the first quarter for Minnesota, which held a nine-point lead twice but lost its edge late in the third while the Spurs closed with a 26-14 run.

The Wolves, who lost their third straight after winning their opener, threw everything they had against Parker, Duncan and the rest of the bunch.

"We're getting chances. It took Tony making every shot for them," Miller said. "We've got to figure out what we've got to do to win games. We'll just keep plugging away."

San Antonio picked up its sixth straight win and 11th in the last 12 meetings against Minnesota.

"I told our guys at the end of the game we could easily be 3-1, but the reality is we're 1-3 and we've got to keep fighting," Wolves coach Randy Wittman said. "I'm proud of their effort."

Suns 113, Pacers 103

In Indianapolis, Amare Stoudemire scored 49 points for Phoenix, falling a point short of his career high.

Cavaliers 107, Bulls 93

In Cleveland, LeBron James scored a season-high 41 points — 15 on free throws — and Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Cavs.

Pistons 100, Raptors 93

In Toronto, Tayshaun Prince scored 16 of his 27 points in the second quarter, and Richard Hamilton had 22 to help Detroit improve to 4-0.

Knicks 101, Bobcats 98

In New York, Zach Randolph had 25 points and 13 rebounds, Nate Robinson scored all 24 of his points in the first half, and the Knicks ruined former coach Larry Brown's first game back at Madison Square Garden.

Heat 106, 76ers 83

In Miami, Dwyane Wade scored 29 points, Mario Chalmers set a franchise record with nine steals, and the Heat scored 12 straight points in the fourth quarter.

Celtics 96, Thunder 83

In Oklahoma City, Paul Pierce had 20 points and nine rebounds, and Ray Allen scored 18 points for Boston.

Hawks 87, Hornets 79

In New Orleans, Joe Johnson scored 24 points and Atlanta made 12 3-pointers to improve to 3-0 and drop the Hornets to 3-1.

Kings 100, Grizzlies 95

In Sacramento, Kevin Martin scored 33 points and John Salmons had 21 points and nine rebounds for the Kings in their first victory of the season.

Bucks 112, Wizards 104 (OT)

In Milwaukee, Richard Jefferson scored 32 points, rookie Luc Richard Mbah a Moute added 17 and the Bucks overcame a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit.

Jazz 103, Trail Blazers 96

In Salt Lake City, Mehmut Okur scored 22 points and Carlos Boozer added 20 — including four in the final 30 seconds, to help Utah improve to 4-0.

Warriors 111, Nuggets 101

In Oakland, Calif., Stephen Jackson had 29 points and seven assists and Golden State overcame a poor first quarter.

Lakers 106, Clippers 88

In Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant scored 27 points and the unbeaten Lakers used a 22-0 run in the fourth quarter to beat the winless Clippers for the sixth straight time.

We welcome your opinions. Click to send a message to the editor.