Philippines, 19 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


San Antonio rests top stars, stumbles in Utah


PhilBoxing.com




FOR a veteran NBA team with multiple championships under its belt, getting some rest is clearly more important than the race for the best overall record in the NBA.

That was exactly the case Monday night at the Energy Solutions Arena, where the San Antonio Spurs played the Utah Jazz without their Big Three of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, who did not travel with the team.

Minus the prolific trio, Utah defeated San Antonio, 91-84. The loss not only snapped the Spurs' 11-game win-streak, it also dropped their won-lost record to 40-15, a nose behind the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are the best in the West with a 42-15 slate. The 43-14 Chicago Bulls are No.1 league-wide.

With a brutal of stretch of five games in seven nights, Spurs coach Gregg Poppovich decided to rest his star starters, a decision he described as a "no-brainer." Obviously, the Spurs don't care about playoffs seedings, they only care about being healthy.

The 6-foot-10 Duncan is still getting it done with 15 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, but he has 14 years of NBA toil on him and he's turning 36 this later this month.

At 29, Tony Parker only has 10 years of NBA mileage, but the wear and tear of countless playoffs wars is taking its toll as the speedy point guard has missed four games this season with wrist and right calf issues.

Though back in the lineup after a 30-game absence due to a broken hand, Ginobili is still not 100 percent. And at age 34, he's no spring chicken, either.

All these puts so much sense on Poppovich's decision. San Antonio, after all, has already clinched a playoffs berth and some rest now might bode well later for the Spurs as they make one more push for an NBA title following a condensed, lockout-marred season.

Utah also wasn't at full force Monday night as Josh Howard (knee), CJ Miles (left calf strain) and Earl Watson (torn medial meniscus) were sidelined by various injuries. But Devin Harris (25 points and six assists) provided enough firepower to topple the Spurs while Paul Millsap added 18 points and 10 rebounds. Gordon Hayward chipped in 16.

Gary Neal and Tiago Splitter paced San Antonio with 14 points apiece, but there was little offense elsewhere for the Spurs, who struggled with just 40.2 percent from the field (35-of-87 shots) and 29.2 percent from 3-point range (7-of-24).

And while the Spurs are safely in the postseason, the 30-28 Utah is currently out of the playoffs picture. The Jazz trails the 30-27 Phoenix Suns and the 31-26 Denver Nuggets for the 8th and last playoffs berth in the Western Conference. (Homer D. Sayson)


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Usyk Registers Career-Heaviest Weight as Dubois Looks Ready for Undisputed Rematch at Wembley
    , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • Rodriguez vs. Cafu Unification Clash Set for Frisco, Texas; All Fighters Make Weight
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • LOPEZ VS. VARGAS WEIGHTS FROM PECHANGA RESORT CASINO
    , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • “Bambol” Tolentino in Las Vegas: Supporting Filipino Athletes and Pacquiao
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Unstoppable: Team Philippines Storms Into Davis Cup Finals After Qatar Sweep
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Blu Girls Stumble Against Taipei, Look to Regroup vs. Hong Kong
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Fighting for clean sweep
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • WBA No. 2 Heavyweight Contender Michael Hunter Is Ready to Take on World Champion Kubrat Pulev; All Systems Go for Purse Bid Winner Don King
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Weights from Panama City; WBA Women's Interim Superfly Title at Stake
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated prospect Pryce Taylor Working hard to join Brooklyn’s Elite list of top heavyweight boxers
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Justin Goossen-Brown Set to Make DAZN Broadcasting Debut This Friday at Boxlab Promotions’ Night of Champions in Orlando
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Philippine Davis Cup Team Sweeps Kuwait to Stay Unbeaten in Group IV
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Pacquiao Promises Surprise Against Barrios
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • PACQUIAO VS. BARRIOS UNDERCARD MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Rosaupan rules Pasay rapid chess championship
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Blu Girls Fall to China in Nail-Biter, Slip to 5–2 in Asia Cup
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • The 19th Thousand Island Cup Philippine Xiangqi Open tournament on August 3
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Pacquiao’s Legacy in Motion: PacMan contra El Azteca
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Blu Girls Crush Singapore 13-0, Set Sights on China in Asia Cup Showdown
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Laylo, Dableo to play in Baguio Open
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Pacquiao Shines in Final Press Conference: Can The Pacman Defeat Father Time and Barrios? (Analysis & Prediction)
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • More lucrative fights await Manny Pacquiao
    By Leo Reyes, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Rumors about Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Tapales, Laurente to help Inoue against MJ
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • AL BERNSTEIN, CHRISTY MARTIN AND ERIC BOTTJER TO SERVE AS ALL-STAR COMMENTARY TEAM FOR THIS FRIDAY’S ‘LOPEZ VS. VARGAS’ EVENT
    , Thu, 17 Jul 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.