Spurs Hold Off Kings 113-104
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Dejounte Murray scored 10 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Sacramento Kings 113-104 on Friday night to end a five-game losing streak and strengthen their hold on the final playoff spot in the West.
DeMar DeRozan had 25 points, Murray added seven assists and six rebounds, and Keldon Johnson scored 16 for San Antonio.
The Spurs (32-34) were coming off back-to-back losses to Utah in a skid that knocked coach Gregg Popovich’s team down to 10th place in the West - the final spot for the play-in tournament - before holding off a pesky Kings team that had won its last four.
San Antonio has some breathing room now. New Orleans (30-37) lost to Philadelphia earlier Friday, while Sacramento (29-38) fell 3 1/2 back of the Spurs.
‘’Guys are disappointed,’’ Kings coach Luke Walton said. ‘’We wanted it. All losses hurt. That was a big one tonight.’’
DeRozan had 18 in the first half to pace San Antonio early but the Spurs trailed 81-78 going into the fourth.
Murray had six points as part of an 18-6 run to start the final quarter and put the Spurs ahead for good. Walker scored eight points in the final 3 1/2 minutes to help San Antonio close it out after the Kings pulled within 100-99.
Popovich moved within 27 games of breaking Don Nelson’s record for career coaching victories in the NBA.
Terence Davis scored 24 points for the Kings. Sacramento missed a chance to move into a tie with the Pelicans for 11th place in the West.
DeMar DeRozan had 25 points, Murray added seven assists and six rebounds, and Keldon Johnson scored 16 for San Antonio.
The Spurs (32-34) were coming off back-to-back losses to Utah in a skid that knocked coach Gregg Popovich’s team down to 10th place in the West - the final spot for the play-in tournament - before holding off a pesky Kings team that had won its last four.
San Antonio has some breathing room now. New Orleans (30-37) lost to Philadelphia earlier Friday, while Sacramento (29-38) fell 3 1/2 back of the Spurs.
‘’Guys are disappointed,’’ Kings coach Luke Walton said. ‘’We wanted it. All losses hurt. That was a big one tonight.’’
DeRozan had 18 in the first half to pace San Antonio early but the Spurs trailed 81-78 going into the fourth.
Murray had six points as part of an 18-6 run to start the final quarter and put the Spurs ahead for good. Walker scored eight points in the final 3 1/2 minutes to help San Antonio close it out after the Kings pulled within 100-99.
Popovich moved within 27 games of breaking Don Nelson’s record for career coaching victories in the NBA.
Terence Davis scored 24 points for the Kings. Sacramento missed a chance to move into a tie with the Pelicans for 11th place in the West.