NBA ROUNDUP Tuesday’s game

NBA ROUNDUP
Tuesday’s game

Spurs 106, Trail Blazers 97

SAN ANTONIO — Tim Duncan had 24 points and 13 rebounds, and San Antonio got its title defense off to a successful start. Tony Parker added 19 points for the Spurs and Manu Ginobili had 16 points and eight assists. LaMarcus Aldridge led the Trail Blazers with 27 points. Martell Webster added 21 and Joel Przybilla contributed 13 points and 10 rebounds for Portland. Despite the long-awaited ring ceremony to kick things off, the game didn’t have quite the excitement that was anticipated when it was announced the Spurs would open against the Trail Blazers, who drafted Greg Oden with the No. 1 overall pick. Oden had microfracture knee surgery this summer, ending his first season before practice even began.

With Oden out, it only seemed appropriate that this night would be all about the Spurs. And it was, with the Spurs controlling the game until the Trail Blazers threatened with about two minutes to play in the fourth quarter. Aldridge’s basket brought the Blazers within three points, the closest they’d been all quarter, with 2:01 left. Parker made it 100-95 for San Antonio, then a goaltending call against Aldridge gave Parker another basket, putting the Spurs up 102-95 with 1:07 to play. Brandon Roy, last season’s Rookie of the Year, hit one of two free throws to make it 102-96. But another goaltending call, this time against Przybilla, gave Duncan a basket and the Spurs a 104-96 lead with 36 ticks on the clock. Brent Barry had 12 points for San Antonio. Travis Outlaw scored 11 for Portland.

Associated Press