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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
CLEVELAND (AP) – Ten years with the Cleveland Cavaliers didn't
help Danny Ferry when he walked into Gund Arena as a visitor for
the first time and immediately got lost.
"I didn't know where to go," Ferry said. "D.A. (Derek
Anderson) said, 'Take a a left', and we got to the locker room. It
was weird."
|  | | Chucky Brown's defense on Spurs center David Robinson can't get any tighter Wednesday in Cleveland. |
Once he got on the floor, however, Ferry knew just what to do.
Ferry made two important 3-pointers in the second half in his
return to Cleveland and Tim Duncan scored 23 points Wednesday
night, leading the San Antonio Spurs to their eighth straight win,
107-89 over the Cavaliers.
The 7-foot Duncan and 7-1 David Robinson did as they pleased
against the overmatched Cavs, who didn't have a player taller than
6-8 to cover them. Duncan finished with 12 rebounds and Derek
Anderson, another former Cav, added 17 points for San Antonio.
Ferry made his first visit to Cleveland since leaving as a free
agent following 10 seasons with the Cavs. He made three 3-pointers,
including one with 10:21 left that put the Spurs up by 15, and had
11 points.
"Anyone who says they don't get fired up to play their old team
is lying," Ferry said. "You're more focused. It was nice to come
back here. It was also nice to win."
Anderson and Ferry went a combined 6-for-8 on 3-pointers for the
Spurs, who made 9-of-15 3s.
Antonio Daniels matched a career-high with 12 assists and
reserve Samaki Walker had 14 points and four rebounds in 24 minutes
for the Spurs.
"He was the player of the game for us," Spurs coach Gregg
Popovich said of Walker. "Not just because he scored, but he did a
great job of posting people up and he did a good job on the boards
and playing defense."
Clarence Weatherspoon had 16 points and 12 rebounds as the
Cavaliers dropped their seventh in a row and lost for the 20th time
in 25 games.
Cleveland, decimated by injuries all season, was without super
sub Chris Gatling and rookie center Chris Mihm.
"We scrapped with them for three quarters," Weatherspoon said.
"But they made shots when we doubled them and that's what good
teams do. That's a real good team."
The losing has taken its toll on the Cavs, who need the All-Star
break to get physically and mentally healthy.
"There are a lot worse things going on," said Jim Jackson.
"There are a lot of things worse than losing a game, people
getting shot and people dying. You've got to keep things in
perspective."
Duncan and Robinson had little trouble shooting over the Cavs
and muscling them out of the way underneath. Duncan went 10-for-16
from the floor and led the Spurs in scoring for the 12th straight
game. He only played about four minutes in the fourth quarter,
leaving once the Spurs had pushed their lead to 20.
"Our defense has been excellent," Popovich said when asked for
the key during San Antonio's streak. "... and Tim Duncan is
feeling good and healthy and playing like a superstar again."
Leading by eight to open the fourth, the Spurs scored the first
eight points of the period to open an 81-65 lead.
During San Antonio's breakaway, Duncan yelled "Bang it!" as
Ferry was setting up behind the arc. Ferry, who never lived up to
expectations in Cleveland but could always shoot, then buried his
third 3-pointer to put the Cavs away.
"I'm just one of the guys who stands out there waiting for the
ball when they get double-teamed," said Ferry, who still has a
soft spot for Cleveland. "It was hard to leave the city because it
had become home. But I'm happy where I'm at. We've got a chance to
win it all."
Trailing by nine points at halftime, the Cavs went on an 18-6
run to take a 58-55 lead with 5:31 left in the third on Miller's
jumper. But with former Cavs Anderson and Ferry hitting 3s, the
Spurs closed the period with an 18-7 spurt for a 73-65 lead after
three.
Game notes
San Antonio has 13 of 15 vs. Cleveland. ... Ferry was
presented with a game ball by the Cavs from April 16 last season
when he broke the record for most games in Cleveland's history. ...
Ferry received a warm ovation when he entered in the first quarter.
... The Spurs are now 6-0 since Terry Porter moved into the
starting lineup on Jan. 27. ... Popovich said Spurs G Avery
Johnson, out since Dec. 13 with a thigh bruise, will likely be
activated for Thursday's game at New Jersey. ... Mihm has missed 11
games with a bruised right knee. He has not recorded an assist in
364 minutes.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
San Antonio Clubhouse
Cleveland Clubhouse
RECAPS
Boston 94
Milwaukee 91
Houston 112
Philadelphia 87
San Antonio 107
Cleveland 89
New York 96
Dallas 93
Orlando 107
Washington 98
Minnesota 117
Sacramento 88
Portland 97
Seattle 80
Golden State 89
LA Clippers 88
LA Lakers 85
Phoenix 83
Utah 92
Vancouver 82
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