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  Thursday, Nov. 4 8:30pm ET
Golden State held to 34 percent shooting
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- David Robinson's aching back is getting better.

Robinson scored 19 points, and Tim Duncan added 15 points and 14 rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Golden State Warriors 104-81 Thursday night.

Jason Caffey, Tim Duncan
Jason Caffey reaches in to foul Tim Duncan of the Spurs.

Robinson, 34, was slowed in the preseason with a sore upper back after getting elbowed in an exhibition game in Houston. He also had tightness in his lower back, a problem that flares up from time to time. He missed two preseason games because of the ailments.

"I'm starting to feel good again," Robinson said. "My back body is starting to bounce around again. My back feels fine."

Robinson and Duncan each had three blocked shots as the Spurs held Golden State to 34 percent shooting.

"We did great defensively," Duncan said. "The low shooting percentage (for Golden State) was very good. That's what we want to do. That's what we did last year."

Warriors coach P.J. Carlesimo said his team tried to concentrate on defending Duncan and Robinson, but then other Spurs players pitched in and hurt Golden State.

"They are so deep," Carlesimo said. "They have quite a few guys on their bench with nearly ten years of NBA experience who really understand their roles and fill them nicely."

Reserve forward Samaki Walker, a free agent from Dallas who signed with San Antonio in the offseason, had 16 points.

"I'm still looking for my flow," Walker said. "Once I get my flow, I feel I can contribute more, give more of a spark."

San Antonio held a 10-point lead at halftime, then expanded it to 20 several times in the third quarter.

By the end of the third, the Warriors trimmed the Spurs' lead to 73-56 thanks to two baskets by rookie Vonteego Cummings in the final 29 seconds.

The Spurs opened the final period with a 3-pointer by Jaren Jackson. Robinson scored the next seven points for San Antonio, giving the Spurs an 83-61 lead with 8:03 remaining and putting the game out of reach.

Antawn Jamison led the Warriors with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

"I'm getting tired of seeing Tim Duncan," Jamison said. "He's a nice guy and a great basketball player, but I've been going up against him since college. Against that front line of theirs, you can't become soft. If you beat one, the other is coming, so you have to play smart."

Mookie Blaylock made his debut at point guard for Golden State with six points and six assists in 24 minutes. Blaylock sat out the Warriors' 108-96 season-opening loss in Dallas on Tuesday because of a strained left calf muscle.

The Spurs scored nine unanswered points in the final 2:53 of the first quarter to take a 23-14 lead. San Antonio led by as many as 13 points three times during the second quarter, but each time Golden State inched a little closer. The Spurs led 44-34 at halftime.

Game notes
Golden State had 17 turnovers, compared with 13 for San Antonio. Turnovers were a problem for both teams in their respective season openers Tuesday. ... San Antonio again started Chucky Brown at small forward in place of Sean Elliott, who is recuperating from a kidney transplant. ... Terry Cummings of Golden State got a round of applause from Spurs fans when he entered the game midway through the first quarter. He was a popular player when he was with the Spurs from 1989-95. .... San Antonio has won 14 straight games in the Alamodome and hasn't lost a regular season home game since falling to Toronto on March 26 last season. ... Golden State's home opener is Saturday against Dallas.

 


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Golden State Clubhouse

San Antonio Clubhouse


RECAPS
Toronto 97
Miami 86

Milwaukee 119
Atlanta 109

Charlotte 98
Indiana 89

San Antonio 104
Golden State 81

Phoenix 84
Philadelphia 80

Utah 98
Houston 82

Seattle 106
Dallas 96