(Sports Network) - Fresh off clinching their 15th consecutive playoff berth,
the red-hot San Antonio Spurs will shoot for their season-high 12th straight
win and a home-and-home sweep of the Utah Jazz when the two teams meet again
in Salt Lake City.
An 11-game winning streak has the Spurs atop the Western Conference,
percentage points ahead of Oklahoma City. San Antonio last missed the
postseason in 1996-97, the season before Tim Duncan arrived in the Alamo City.
Tony Parker scored 10 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter on Sunday as the
ran their winning streak to 11 with a 114-104 victory over Utah in San
Antonio.
Manu Ginobili added 23 points and Duncan posted 13 points and 16 rebounds for
the Spurs, who also won 11 straight from Jan. 30-Feb. 20 earlier this season.
Both streaks are an NBA-high for 2011-12.
"Tony decided he wasn't going to let them come back and he did what he did,"
said Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich.
Popovich also continues to get his key players rest and sat starting center
DeJuan Blair on Sunday.
"He's telling before [the game] who he's not going to play," said Parker. "We
all have to be ready."
Al Jefferson finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Derrick Favors
chipped in 14 and 12 for Utah, which sits 1 1/2 games back of Denver for the
final playoff spot in the West Conference with nine to play. Devin Harris
totaled 18 points and six assists.
The Jazz, who were outscored at the free throw line, 38-16, also return to the
Beehive State banged-up. Forward C.J. Miles left in the second quarter with a
strained left calf and has been scheduled for an MRI while reserve guard Earl
Watson sat out the second half in San Antonio with a right knee strain.
"I thought (the Spurs) were aggressive. They shot the ball very well," Jazz
head coach Tyrone Corbin said.
San Antonio has won five straight over Utah.
The Sports Network