USA - Parker serves up feast for Spurs

SAN ANTONIO (NBA) - Tony Parker put victory on a plate for his team-mates.

The France international registered a career-high 15 assists as the San Antonio Spurs coasted to a 111-82 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Argentina's Manu Ginobili came off the bench to lead San Antonio scorers with 22 points, and Tim Duncan had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, but all eyes were on Parker.

The 6ft 2in guard used his speed to create easy baskets for this team-mates, handing out five assists in the first quarter and seven in the second as the Spurs built a commanding 65-43.

"We just had a fast start," Parker said. "Basically I penetrated and my team-mates were open and making shots. They kind of forced me to pass it because they never left me open in the first half and my team-mates kept making shots, so I decided to keep passing the ball."

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said: "It happened to be a great night sparked by Tony Parker.

"He set the table well and got everybody involved. He was the reason we got off to a good start and sustained it."

Parker, who finished with nine points, added: "After eight or nine assists I went like, 'Man I still haven't scored a basket,' but I wasn't looking to shoot because they were playing good defense on me."

Shaun Livingston scored 16 points to pace the Clippers, who look a long way from the team that reached the Western Conference semi-finals last season.

Utah coach Jerry Sloan will have to wait for his 1,000th coaching win as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Jazz 110-103.

Kevin Garnett had a season-high 31 points and 14 rebounds and Mike James scored 28 points as Minnesota overcame the NBA's best team.

Deron Williams led Utah with 21 points while Turkey's Mehmet Okur 18 and Russia's Andrei Kirilenko added 12.

Carlos Boozer grabbed 13 rebounds but was held to eight points as Garnett focused his defensive efforts on the 6ft 9in center.

Phoenix were never likely to repeat their 161-point performance of Thursday night, but they kept in the wins column with a 116-111 defeat of the Boston Celtics, their ninth-straight win.

Shawn Marion scored 29 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, while Canada's two-time MVP Steve Nash added 16 and 14 assists.

France international Boris Diaw and Raja Bell had 14 points apiece and Amare Stoudamire had 13.

Team USA forward/guard Paul Pierce led Boston with 36 points.

England's Luol Deng and Argentina's Andres Nocioni proved too much for Toronto's galaxy of international stars as the Chicago Bulls beat the Raptors 93-90.

Deng scored 25 points and Nocioni added 17 with a season-high 14 rebounds as the Bulls secured their seventh straight win

After scoring 14 points against the Philadelphia on Wednesday, Nocioni nearly matched that in the third quarter. He made six of seven shots, collecting 13
points and six rebounds.

Team USA guard Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon both added 13.

Six Raptors made it into double figures in the defeat, led by Spanish rookie Jorge Garbajosa who had 17.

Chris Bosh and Mike Peterson both had 13 while TJ Ford, Fred Jones, and Slovenia's Rasho Nesterovic had 12 each.

The Memphis Grizzlies cannot wait to get Pau Gasol back in the line-up as they dropped to 5-14 at the foot of the Southwest Division with a 100-94 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Gasol has resumed training this week as he battles back from a broken foot sustained at the FIBA World Championship, but he can only watch on right now as his team struggles.

Ruben Patterson scored a season-high 30 points and Team USA's Michael Redd added 25 as the Bucks took control early on and cruised.
Australia's Andrew Bogut added 11.

Hakim Warrick led Memphis with career highs of 31 points and 13 rebounds.

The Philadelphia 76ers may soon have to get used to life without Allen Iverson, but they will need to do better than Friday's 113-98 loss to Washington.

On the night when the 76ers confirmed their All-Star guard will be traded, Philadelphia sank to their sixth straight loss.

Gilbert Arenas scored 32 points to lead the Wizards.

Tracy McGrady scored 23 points and China's Yao Ming added 21 as the Houston Rockets routed the Charlotte Bobcats 92-62, while Jamaal Tinsley scored 11 of his 20 points in the pivotal third quarter as the Indiana Pacers beat Portland 108-95.

Chauncey Billups, who hopes to return to the Team USA set up in the run up to the Olympics, overcame a tender right hamstring to score a season-high 31 points as the Detroit Pistons posted an 87-83 win over the Orlando Magic.

Orlando's Turkey forward Hedo Turkoglu suffered a sprained right ankle in the first quarter and did not return.

JR Smith scored a career-high 37 points to help the Denver Nuggets to a 123-107 defeat of the Miami Heat, while the Los Angeles Lakers overcame the absence of superstar Kobe Bryant to beat Atlanta 106-95, and Seattle - without Ray Allen - beat New Orleans 94-74.

PA Sport