Philippines, 24 Jul 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


San Antonio Spurs quietly rising


PhilBoxing.com




LOS ANGELES -- They don't have the boom of the Thunder from Oklahoma. And neither do they possess the flash and dash of those athletes-slash-rock stars from the swaggering Miami Heat.

What they do have is a knack for winning games. Plenty of games, in fact. And after last night's count, 46 to be exact.

It's the no frills, no thrills San Antonio Spurs, the best team in the Western Conference, and perhaps, the entire NBA.

After a punchless start marred by injuries, the Spurs, who won NBA titles in 2003, 2005 and 2007, have righted their ship remarkably well, showing the poise and patience of a multiple champion. They have since racked their won-lost slate to 46-16, No.1 in the West and second overall in the NBA behind the 47-16 Chicago Bulls.

The Spurs gave a sampling of their vaunted firepower Friday night when they manhandled the Los Angeles Lakers, 121-97, at the AT@T Center in downtown San Antonio. The Spurs made beating the Lakers look so scary easy.

San Antonio obliterated what resembled as a Lakers defense by shooting 61 percent from the field (47-of-77 field goals) and 66.7 percent from 3-point range (10-of-15 treys). Tim Duncan led the assault with 21 points while Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili chipped in 20 apiece.

The Spurs sank a remarkable 17 of 18 free throws. They also outrebounded the Lakers 42-29 and they dished more assists, 27-19. In other words, the Spurs edged the Lakers in the most important facets of the game.

Sidelined by injuries for seven straight starts, Kobe Bryant made an uneventful return. The Black Mamba finished with an average output of 18 points, two rebounds and one assist. He shot 7 of 12 field goals and played only for 29 minutes.

Lakers big man Andrew Bynum tallied 17 points while forward Matt Barnes added 14, but the Lakers couldn't overcome a poor shooting night -- 33-of-76 field goals (43.4 percent) including just 6-of-14 from 3-point range (42.9 percent).

With their sixth straight triumph, the 46-16 Spurs maintained a half-game lead over the 46-17 Oklahoma City Thunder for Western Conference supremacy. The Spurs are also within an earshot of the Chicago Bulls, who currently lead the NBA with a 47-16 record.

And while the Bulls, Heat and Thunder have attracted most of the attention in this lockout-shortened season, the San Antonio Spurs have quietly piled up the wins under the press radar. Tim Duncan and company are playing great basketball, just in time for the playoffs. (Juleene Aderhold)


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Juleene Janell Aderhold.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • SYDNEY SHOWDOWN: Spence and Tszyu Exchange Final Verbal Barbs; Undercard Weight Drama Unfolds at Press Conference
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Fri, 24 Jul 2026
  • Spence vs Tszyu Fight Analysis and Prediction
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Fri, 24 Jul 2026
  • “BUTTERFLY BRAWL” MARKS RETURN TO ICONIC SANTA MONICA PIER
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Fri, 24 Jul 2026
  • AIM Jerick Faeldonia vying for Bangkok chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 24 Jul 2026
  • PHILBOXING.COM THURSDAY ROUNDUP: Scale Shock in Pattaya, Red Sea Staredowns, and Final Countdown to Sydney
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Thu, 23 Jul 2026
  • USA Boxing Sends Eight Boxers to Italy for International Duel
    , Thu, 23 Jul 2026
  • P248k prize on the line in Moon Cake Festival Pro Amateur 10-ball tournament at Pacman's Cue Club
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 23 Jul 2026
  • Super Lightweight Contender Frank “The Ghost” Martin Inks Promotional Pact with Top Rank
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Thu, 23 Jul 2026
  • DUELING TUNE-UPS: Joshua and Fury Play High-Stakes Chicken Across Asia with November Mega-Fight Hanging in the Balance
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Wed, 22 Jul 2026
  • Chavon Stillwell and Izaiah Dent Put Their Perfect Records on the Line in a Can't-Miss Main Event at BiYu Promotions' "Fights Under the Lights"
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Wed, 22 Jul 2026
  • Unbeaten Bizhamov faces Mironchikov in IBA Pro 20 main event in Naberezhnye Chelny
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Wed, 22 Jul 2026
  • Cuarto ready to fight Paradero
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 22 Jul 2026
  • CHAVES DEFENDS WBO LATINO TITLE AGAINST GARCIA AT PRUDENTIAL CENTER IN NEWARK, NJ ON SEPT 4
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Wed, 22 Jul 2026
  • Undefeated Middleweight Prospect Sebastian Juarez Returns August 8 Against Rance Ward
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Wed, 22 Jul 2026
  • WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán and WBC Cares visits Pedro Fiorito Hospital in Avellaneda, Argentina
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 22 Jul 2026
  • COLD SHOULDER IN SYDNEY: Spence and Tszyu Trade Snubs and Staredowns at Grand Arrivals Launch
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • Suarez, Lewkowicz Ask the WBO to Enforce Navarrete Rematch and Begin Negotiations Immediately
    By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 20 JULY 2026: Papot Outpoints Eubank; Pacheco Stops Aleem; Suarez Smokes Avila in One Round
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • Fiery Exchange at Fanatics Fest: Garcia and Benn Nearly Brawl in New York Ahead of Sept. 12 Title Clash
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • John Michael Zulueta Headlines in Highland Show July 25 in Thailand, LIVE on TrillerTV
    By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • Results from Dominican Republic: Alberto Puello Stops Ángel Bolaño in 3
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • Matchroom Boxing reveals major fights in UK & Ireland schedule from August to October
    , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • Colombia National Congress Awarded "Kid Pambelé" with Grand Cross Knight
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • MILO Marathon returns to Davao on August 2
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • PHILBOXING.COM WEEKEND ROUNDUP: News, Fallout, and the Long Shadow of Sydney
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Tue, 21 Jul 2026




  •  



     
    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
    © 2026 philboxing.com.