Spurs rebound from stinging loss to top Thunder
San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan, right, shoots over Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kendrick Perkins during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 11, 2013, in San Antonio. AP/Darren Abate
SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Spurs won the battle of the Western Conference heavyweights Monday, bouncing back from an embarrassing 30-point loss Friday to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 105-93.
Tiago Splitter was one of a half dozen Spurs’ players who reached double figures in Monday’s clash between the two top clubs in the West.
Splitter also grabbed 10 rebounds, while Kawhi Leonard had 17 and Danny Green had 16 points for the Spurs, who rebounded from Friday’s 30-point hammering against the Portland Trail Blazers, 136-106.
Tim Duncan finished with 13 points and eight rebounds, Manu Ginobili scored 12 points and Boris Diaw added 11 as the Spurs closed out a six-game home stand at the AT&T Center arena with four wins and two losses.
The National Basketball Association’s leading scorer Kevin Durant finished with a game-high 26 points and Russell Westbrook had 25 points, six rebounds and a half dozen assists for Oklahoma City, who had their five-game winning streak snapped.
San Antonio improved to 49-15 and now have a two game lead on the Thunder (47-17) for first place in the West standings. Miami leads the Eastern Conference with a 47-14 record as they are riding an 18-game win streak.
The Spurs shot a scorching 59 percent from the field, including four-of-seven from beyond the arc, in the opening half to seize a 57-50 lead at halftime.
The Spurs are now an impressive 26-4 at home this season. One more victory and they will record 50 wins for the 14th straight season.
They next face Minnesota on Tuesday before returning home for four consecutive games.
Oklahoma City was coming off a 91-79 win over the Boston Celtics and have now lost just two of their last 10 games.
The teams split their first two meetings this season with the host team now having won each of the three contests.
