This article is cross-posted at Spurs World
Without their Big 3, the San Antonio Spurs (23-10) lacked the size and firepower to matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers (18-16).
Without their Big 3, the San Antonio Spurs (23-10) lacked the size and firepower to matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers (18-16).
LaMarcus Aldridge had 21 points and the Blazers routed San Antonio 137-97 Tuesday night while the Spurs rested Tim Duncan and Tony Parker.
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| Kawhi Leonard |
Jamal Crawford scored 20 points, shooting 5-of-7 on three-pointers, and had eight assists for the Blazers, who led by as many as 48 points and sat all of their starters for most of the fourth quarter.
Gerald Wallace and Nicolas Batum each had 19 points in the win.
Kawhi Leonard had 24 points, 10 rebounds, five steals and one block to lead San Antonio, which snapped an 11-game winning streak overall and an eight-game streak on the road.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said before the game that he was resting Parker and Duncan because the Spurs were playing three games in four nights.
“They’ve been going and going and going and if you don’t do it now I think you’re asking for trouble,” Popovich said.
San Antonio were also without guard Manu Ginobili and center Tiago Splitter because of injuries. Both are expected to miss two weeks.
The Spurs were playing their annual Rodeo Road trip which keeps them away from home for an extended period while the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo takes over the AT&T Center.
The Spurs reserves got plenty of playing time and valuable experience on the hard court.
Spurs rookie guard Corey Joseph got his first NBA start and finished with 13 points and three assist in 37 minutes, while James Anderson logged in 35 minutes and scored 11 points.
