Spurs shrug off fine, beat Memphis

ISTANBUL - The Associated Press

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich (L) says a $250,000 fine handed to the franchise by the National Basketball Association is disappointing. AP Photo

Tony Parker scored 30 points, Tim Duncan had 27 points and 15 rebounds, and the San Antonio Spurs shook off a “disappointing” $250,000 fine by the NBA to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 99-95 in overtime on Dec. 1.

Coach Gregg Popovich said before the win he doesn’t know if the Spurs will appeal the NBA’s stiff penalty for sending Duncan, Parker and two others home to rest on Nov. 29 instead of them suiting up against the Miami Heat in a nationally televised game.

Popovich said he was disappointed by Commissioner David Stern’s decision.

Unprecedented fine

He also didn’t rule out sitting out players again in the future.

Spanish center Marc Gasol led Memphis with 20 points.

The unprecedented fine announced on Nov. 30 overshadowed the first meeting this season between two of the teams with the best winning records in the Western conference. The Heat won 106-100, but the Spurs were leading the game with one minute left to go.

Elsewhere, Dwyane Wade scored a season-high 34 points, LeBron James added 21 points and the Miami Heat rallied from a 14-point deficit to beat the Brooklyn Nets.

Ray Allen scored 13 and Norris Cole finished with 12 for the Heat, who won their sixth straight and remained atop the Eastern Conference. Miami held the Nets to 30 points in the second half.
Andray Blatche scored 20 points for Brooklyn, which had won five in a row. Gerald Wallace had 13 points, Joe Johnson added 12 and Deron Williams finished with 10 points and 12 assists.
Brooklyn was 10-for-31 from the field in the second half.