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By Brian Guerra
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer
SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) -- Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spursweren't distracted by a championship celebration on Tuesdaynight.
Duncan collected 24 points and 13 rebounds as the Spurs startedoff their title defense with an 106-97 victory over theundermanned Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA's season opener.
Reigning NBA Finals MVP Tony Parker scored 19 points for SanAntonio, which played its first game since sweeping theCleveland Cavaliers in the Finals last June. The Spurs have wonfour championships in nine seasons.
Duncan, who reportedly signed a two-year contract extension thatwill keep him in San Antonio through 2012, shot 10-of-15 fromthe field and controlled the paint for most of the game.
But the main attraction came before the contest.
After the starting lineups were announced, the Trail Blazersreturned to their locker room, opting to miss the championshipring ceremony. But the Spurs were the ones who have seen thisall before.
San Antonio's 2007 championship banner was unveiled alongsidethe previous three after players and team employees were handedthe title rings from NBA commissioner David Stern - a familiarsight at AT&T Center in recent campaigns.
As for the game, Manu Ginobili was a much-needed fourth-quarterspark for the Spurs, collecting 16 points, eight assists andfive steals in the game.
The Spurs never seemed to find their outside shot, connecting on5-of-17 from the arc. Bruce Bowen, usually solid from hiscorner spot, missed two badly early in the game, and finished0-of-5 from the field.
But Ginobili hit two free throws, and newcomer Darius Washingtonhit a 3-pointer on the Spur's first possession in the fourthquarter for an 84-77 lead.
Ginobili then threw down an emphatic dunk and scored off anoffensive rebound on the next possession for an 88-80 lead with9:35 left in the game.
Duncan took control of the game in the paint, scoring fourstraight points and giving the Spurs a cushion, albeit a smallone, to work with en route to outscoring the Blazers by fivepoints in the final period to secure the victory.
Second-year forward LaMarcus Aldridge kept the Blazers in thegame with 27 points on 12-of-19 shooting. Joel Przybilla added13 points and 10 rebounds for Portland, which will play withoutNo. 1 overall pick Greg Oden for the entire season.
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer
SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) -- Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spursweren't distracted by a championship celebration on Tuesdaynight.
Duncan collected 24 points and 13 rebounds as the Spurs startedoff their title defense with an 106-97 victory over theundermanned Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA's season opener.
Reigning NBA Finals MVP Tony Parker scored 19 points for SanAntonio, which played its first game since sweeping theCleveland Cavaliers in the Finals last June. The Spurs have wonfour championships in nine seasons.
Duncan, who reportedly signed a two-year contract extension thatwill keep him in San Antonio through 2012, shot 10-of-15 fromthe field and controlled the paint for most of the game.
But the main attraction came before the contest.
After the starting lineups were announced, the Trail Blazersreturned to their locker room, opting to miss the championshipring ceremony. But the Spurs were the ones who have seen thisall before.
San Antonio's 2007 championship banner was unveiled alongsidethe previous three after players and team employees were handedthe title rings from NBA commissioner David Stern - a familiarsight at AT&T Center in recent campaigns.
As for the game, Manu Ginobili was a much-needed fourth-quarterspark for the Spurs, collecting 16 points, eight assists andfive steals in the game.
The Spurs never seemed to find their outside shot, connecting on5-of-17 from the arc. Bruce Bowen, usually solid from hiscorner spot, missed two badly early in the game, and finished0-of-5 from the field.
But Ginobili hit two free throws, and newcomer Darius Washingtonhit a 3-pointer on the Spur's first possession in the fourthquarter for an 84-77 lead.
Ginobili then threw down an emphatic dunk and scored off anoffensive rebound on the next possession for an 88-80 lead with9:35 left in the game.
Duncan took control of the game in the paint, scoring fourstraight points and giving the Spurs a cushion, albeit a smallone, to work with en route to outscoring the Blazers by fivepoints in the final period to secure the victory.
Second-year forward LaMarcus Aldridge kept the Blazers in thegame with 27 points on 12-of-19 shooting. Joel Przybilla added13 points and 10 rebounds for Portland, which will play withoutNo. 1 overall pick Greg Oden for the entire season.