Thunder-struck: Parker helps lift Spurs past OKC

Associated Press

San antonio

Tony Parker scored 34 points, Manu Ginobili added 20 and the San Antonio Spurs stayed perfect in the playoffs with a 120-111 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals on Tuesday night.

The Spurs set an NBA record with their 20th consecutive victory bridging the regular season and the playoffs. They came in sharing the longest such streak with the 2000-01 Lakers, who won 19 straight before losing to Philadelphia in the first game of the finals.

Those Lakers went on to win the championship and there’s no reason yet to think the Spurs won’t do the same.

They put on an offensive clinic for three quarters, shooting 60 percent from the field and leading by as many as 22 points in the third quarter.

Del Negro returning

LOS ANGELES

Vinny Del Negro will be back as coach of the Los Angeles Clippers after guiding them to the highest winning percentage in franchise history during the lockout-shortened season.

The team said Tuesday that it has exercised its option on him to return for a third season.

Del Negro led the Clippers to a 40-26 record, a winning percentage of 60.6 and the second round of the playoffs, where they were swept by the San Antonio Spurs.

Del Negro has a 72-76 record in two seasons with the team.