Parker leads Spurs in rout of Trail Blazers
Tony Parker #9 of the San Antonio Spurs leaps past LaMarcus Aldridge #12 of the Portland Trail Blazers in Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2014 NBA Playoffs at the AT&T Center on May 6, 2014 in San Antonio, Texas. Chris Covatta/Getty Images/AFP
SAN ANTONIO — Tony Parker poured in 33 points and the San Antonio Spurs romped to a 116-92 victory over Portland on Tuesday in game one of their NBA second-round playoff series.
French point guard Parker also had nine assists, and six Spurs players scored in double figures as the Western Conference top seeds took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
“The whole team is playing great right now,” said Parker, adding that their game-seven rout of Dallas to advance from the first round on Sunday had buoyed the Spurs.
Kawhi Leonard scored 16 points and Tim Duncan scored 12 points and pulled down 11 rebounds.
San Antonio’s reserves also came up big. Marco Belinelli of Italy scored 19 points and Australian imports Aron Baynes and Patty Mills had 10 points each.
The Spurs, showing the skills that produced a league-leading 62 regular-season victories, scored the first eight points against the less-experienced Trail Blazers and never looked back.
They led 29-16 after one quarter and 65-39 at halftime.
Portland, who had upset Houston in the first round, never really threatened, and the Spurs rested their stars down the stretch.
LaMarcus Aldridge scored 32 points with 14 rebounds for Portland, while Damian Lillard, hero in the series decider against the Rockets, finished with 17 points on 6-of-15 shooting.
The Trail Blazers will try to regroup on Thursday, when the Spurs host game two.
The Western Conference semi-finals continue on Wednesday when the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Thunder — led by newly crowned NBA Most Valuable Player Kevin Durant — will be trying to bounce back from a 122-105 loss to the Clippers on their home floor on Monday.
