Spurs Hold Off the Kings

Tim Duncan had 22 points and 19 rebounds, Tony Parker scored 23 and the San Antonio Spurs held off the Sacramento Kings, 96-93, Monday night for their fourth straight victory.

Parker and Duncan frustrated the Kings’ defense, helping the Spurs win for the seventh time in eight games and improve to 9-2, the best record in the Western Conference.

Trailing by 17 early in the fourth quarter, the Kings finally got going with Mike Bibby scoring 14 of his 33 points in the period.

Bibby’s three-point basket cut the lead to 96-94 with 27.6 seconds left, but he could not connect on a desperation three-pointer with one second left that would have tied it.

Coming off a two-point loss Sunday night in Seattle, the Kings were without leading scorer Peja Stojakovic, who sat out because of a sprained finger suffered against the SuperSonics.

Golden State 100, New Jersey 97 -- Derek Fisher scored nine of his 22 points in the fourth quarter at Oakland to help the Warriors end their losing streak against the Nets at five.

Jason Richardson added 25 points and Baron Davis had 17 points and eight assists for the Warriors, who began a stretch with eight of nine games at home.

Richard Jefferson scored 23 for the Nets, who lost Vince Carter to a strained back muscle. His status was not known.

After Jeff McInnis made one of two free throws with 1:03 to play, the Nets got the ball back trailing, 98-93, when Troy Murphy was whistled for an offensive foul with 47.7 seconds left. Jefferson made both free throws, then the Warriors missed on the other end, giving New Jersey another possession.

Jason Kidd made two free throws with 9.2 seconds to go, then Richardson sank two free throws at 8.3. With a final chance to tie it, Kidd lost control of the ball and the Nets didn’t get a shot off before the final buzzer.

Philadelphia 103, New Orleans 91 -- Playing with flu-like symptoms and failing to score at least 25 points for the first time this season, Allen Iverson had all 24 of his points in the first half at Philadelphia to help the 76ers end a two-game losing streak.

Iverson, who also had nine assists, was one of six 76ers to score in double figures.

David West had 20 points for New Orleans, which trailed by 18 points at halftime on the way to having its two-game winning streak ended.

The 76ers extended their lead to 83-63 after the third quarter and were never seriously threatened by the Hornets, who shot five for 21 from the field in that quarter and 31 for 78 (40%) overall.

Utah 100, Milwaukee 80 -- Deron Williams had 10 points and 10 assists at Salt Lake City to help the Jazz snap a five-game losing streak and spoil former University of Utah center Andew Bogut’s return to the state. The Bucks’ rookie had eight points and seven rebounds.

Williams was the third overall pick in June’s NBA draft while Bogut was the top selection.

Gordan Giricek led Utah with 18 points. Michael Redd had 25 points for the Bucks, who let the Jazz hit 100 points for the first time this season.