Parker sparks Spurs in rout of Wizards
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Tony Parker scored 10 of his 18 points in less than 2 minutes during the first quarter to jump-start the San Antonio Spurs to a 118-94 rout of the Washington Wizards on Saturday night.
A day after losing 77-71 at Philadelphia, San Antonio bettered that points total before halftime.
The Spurs shot better than 60 percent from the field for most of the game, finishing at 58.4 percent, including 13 of 25 from 3-point range, and led by as many as 41 points. Every available San Antonio player had scored midway through the third quarter.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}George Hill also scored 18 points and was 4 for 4 on 3-pointers for San Antonio, which has won 10 consecutive games against the Wizards, including five straight in Washington. Gary Neal added 16 points as six Spurs finished in double digits.
Cartier Martin and Andray Blatche each scored 16 points to lead Washington.
Parker's 10-point run came entirely on fast breaks, including three steals he converted into layups. It was part of a 12-0 run that gave San Antonio a 16-point lead, and the Spurs never looked back. Parker finished with 14 points in the quarter.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Spurs led 37-18 after the first quarter and 72-45 after the first half. The 72 points were the most San Antonio has scored in any half this season, and tied the most allowed in a first half by Washington.
Tim Duncan scored six points in 12 minutes, the fewest he's played in a game since Dec. 2, 2007. Duncan got the most rest as the Spurs' starters played sparingly in the second half. For the first time this season, San Antonio made a change to the starting lineup as Hill replaced Manu Ginobili.
The Wizards now head to Cleveland for a game Sunday matching teams setting marks for futility this season. Washington has an 0-25 road record and is looking for its first win away from home against the Cavaliers, who recently snapped an NBA-record 26-game losing streak.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Notes: Spurs F Tiago Splitter missed his second straight game with a strained left hamstring. ... The Wizards had three forwards out due to injury, including Rashard Lewis (sore right knee). Al Thornton (dislocated right middle finger) missed his second straight game. Josh Howard (sore left knee), who has not played since Jan. 5, was originally slated to return against the Spurs but should play Sunday at Cleveland, coach Flip Saunders said. ... It was Washington's third sellout of the season, drawing a crowd of 20,435.