NBA
Scores/Schedules
Standings
Statistics
Transactions
Injuries
Players
Weekly lineup

  Wednesday, Jan. 19 8:30pm ET
Duncan's double-figures streak ends at 61
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- The Portland Trail Blazers weren't looking for revenge. They were just looking to get back on the winning track after suffering consecutive losses for just the second time this season.

Bonzi Wells
Bonzi Wells scores two of his 12 points.

The Trail Blazers did just that in impressive fashion Wednesday night as they stopped Tim Duncan's double-figure scoring streak at 61 games in a 105-95 win over the San Antonio Spurs 105-95.

"This was the performance we were looking for after two subpar performances in Texas," Portland coach Mike Dunleavy said. "We got a big night from Rasheed Wallace and moved the ball very well on offense."

It was the first meeting between the teams since the Spurs swept the Blazers 4-0 in the Western Conference finals last season on their way to the NBA title.

Portland improved its record to 29-10, second best in the NBA, and San Antonio slipped to 25-15.

"Portland is one heck of a team, very talented," San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. "Our defense played better in the second half, but we got ourselves in a hole."

If the Blazers wanted to make a statement against the defending champs, it came across loud and clear. Rebounding from losses in Dallas and Houston, Portland never trailed and held a double-figure lead most of the second half.

"We need to play with this kind of urgency every night," Blazers guard Damon Stoudamire said.

Wallace scored 22 points, 16 in the first half, and did the bulk of the defensive work against Duncan, who scored just nine after coming into the game with a 24.8 scoring average.

"We wanted to make him have to work," Dunleavy said. "You have to track him in transition and look for him to be running the floor. You have to get your bumps in and don't give him any easy baskets.

Duncan hit just 2-of-9 from the field in 38 minutes and had only six rebounds. He did not connect on his first field goal until dropping in a jump hook from the corner with 8:06 remaining.

"I have to give a lot of credit to Portland," Duncan said. "They didn't let me get my rhythm tonight. Portland played great. It's tough to make shots when you don't have space to work with."

Spurs guard Antonio Daniels added: "They were coming at him right from the catch. He couldn't even touch the ball."

Wallace hit seven of his first nine shots in the first half to lead a balanced Blazers attack. Arvydas Sabonis added 17 points, Bonzi Wells 12 and Detlef Schrempf 11.

David Robinson led the Spurs with 29 points and 12 rebounds and Avery Johnson added 18. But Johnson, the Spurs point guard, had just one assist.

The Spurs made a late charge when they trimmed a 17-point fourth-quarter lead to five with about three minutes left. But after Brian Grant snared a key offensive rebound, Scottie Pippen swished a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 1:57 left to increase the lead to 98-90.

"This is just one game so I wouldn't say it was a statement game," Pippen said. "We know they are the world champions and have a lot of pride. They will come back hard the next time we face them."

Game notes
Duncan's 61-game double-figure streak was the third longest in the NBA behind Kevin Garnett's 164 and 86 straight by Antonio McDyess of Denver. Portland became only the third team to score at least 100 points against San Antonio this season. ... Robinson needs 16 steals to pass Alvin Robertson as the Spurs career leader in steals. ... Portland (29-10) matched its record after 39 games from a year ago. The Blazers close out their five-game road trip Saturday against the Los Angeles Lakers, the only NBA team with a better record.
 


ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard

Portland Clubhouse

San Antonio Clubhouse


Dunleavy: Wallace's emotions must help, not hurt


RECAPS
Boston 94
Toronto 90

Indiana 106
Milwaukee 84

Philadelphia 107
Atlanta 89

Dallas 104
Washington 86

New York 90
New Jersey 89

Charlotte 96
Chicago 86

Portland 105
San Antonio 95

Minnesota 91
Utah 88

LA Lakers 95
Cleveland 86