Duncan helps Spurs clinch Southwest title

SAN ANTONIO The San Antonio Spurs clinched the Southwest Division title with a 105-91 romp over the Phoenix Suns on Saturday that kept them on the heels of the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Western Conference lead.

Monday, April 16, 2012
San Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan scores against the Phoenix Suns during the second quarter. Net photo.

Saturday

LA Clippers 112-104 Golden State    

Washington  89-98    Cleveland    

New Jersey  82-94    Boston

Minnesota 110-115 Oklahoma City  

Memphis  103-98    Utah Milwaukee  99-105    Indiana     San Antonio  105-91 Phoenix SAN ANTONIOThe San Antonio Spurs clinched the Southwest Division title with a 105-91 romp over the Phoenix Suns on Saturday that kept them on the heels of the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Western Conference lead. Tim Duncan equaled Phoenix’s first quarter production, scoring 13 of his 19 points as San Antonio (42-16) galloped to a 35-13 lead. He also had 11 rebounds in three quarters of playing time.The balanced Spurs had 13 players score in the game, giving Duncan and other starters valuable rest time."We were able to jump on them pretty quickly and we sustained it through the game,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told reporters.Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker both had 14 points for San Antonio.Sebastian Telfair came off the bench to score 21 points for Phoenix, who dropped 1 1/2 games behind Houston and Denver in the race for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot.All-Star guard Steve Nash played the first six minutes of the game, then did not return."He was not feeling well, and we’re not going to risk one game of putting him back in there and then him missing the rest of the season,” Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. Elsewhere, Kevin Durant scored 43 points in Oklahoma City’s 115-110 win over Minnesota that kept the Thunder (44-16) in the West lead.