SAN ANTONIO — Tony Parker prevailed in a clash of All-Star point guards, scoring 25 points and stretching San Antonio’s division lead over Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets in a 106-93 win Saturday night.
Paul, who scored 38, will start ahead of Parker for the Western Conference at the All-Star game in two weeks, and he had the kind of game that showed why.
But Manu Ginobili added 20 points, including a poster-worthy dunk over David Armstrong that made the home crowd erupt.
The Spurs pushed their lead over the Hornets in the Southwest Division to three games before leaving for their annual Rodeo Road Trip, which will keep San Antonio on the road for eight games in three weeks.
This was the send-off the Spurs wanted. Michael Finley made four 3-pointers on his way to 20 points, and Tim Duncan scored 12 points against David West in another matchup of All-Stars.
West scored 16 points and had 10 rebounds in his second night back since missing five games with back spasms.
The Spurs have won three straight and seven of their last eight. The game played out much like the seven-game Western Conference semifinal series last season in which the Spurs rallied from an 0-2 hole with mostly comfortable wins at home.
San Antonio won its 29th straight game when scoring 100 or more points, the longest active streak in the NBA.
New Orleans dropped its second in a row after being upset by Golden State the previous night. The Hornets’ next four are back in New Orleans, where they are 16-6.
Paul was electrifying, going 15-of-22 from the floor with five 3-pointers and four assists. He also played passionately — getting hit with a technical foul in the third quarter after blurting a loud protest at an official.
He wasn’t alone. West and James Posey also got technicals.
Paul knocked down two 3-pointers shortly after his technical to help cut the lead to seven. But it was as close as the Hornets would get.
Ginobili hit a 3-pointer early in fourh quarter to push the lead back to 10, and a trio of long jumpers from Finley and Parker helped stretch the lead to the point where New Orleans couldn’t rally.
Notes: Injury-plagued Spurs C Ian Mahimni is expected miss 6-10
weeks after undergoing surgery on his right ankle. He originally injured the ankle in August and has not played this season. … The Spurs recalled G Malik Hairston before Saturday’s game. The second-round pick has spent most of the season with San Antonio’s development team in Austin. … The Hornets did not renew the 10-day contract of rookie F Anthony Tolliver.
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