Aldridge Scores 23 Points To Help Spurs Rout Mavs 112-83
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SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The San Antonio Spurs can be sparked by so many different players, even their worst start of the season didn't faze them against a heated intrastate rival.
LaMarcus Aldridge scored 23 points and the Spurs got an early spark from Jonathon Simmons to beat the Dallas Mavericks 112-83 on Sunday night and remain undefeated at home.
"It's just easier having guys that can make plays, guys that can have big nights," Aldridge said. "Last game David (West) played great, I was in foul trouble. (Tony Parker) had two or three games where he was killing. Kawhi (Leonard) had the previous five games. I think it just makes it easier on everyone out there."
The Spurs did have some bad news, losing Parker late in the third quarter to right hip soreness. An earlier occurrence of the injury forced him to miss two games at the beginning of the month. San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said Parker's status is unknown.
San Antonio is a franchise-best 24-0 at home and has won 33 straight at the AT&T Center dating to March 2015. At 36-6, the Spurs tied the 2010-11 team for their best 42-game start.
"We've got to credit these guys, credit the Spurs," Dallas guard Wesley Matthews said. "Obviously they're undefeated at home for a reason. They're a great team. They play hard every single possession. Everybody that checks into the game plays hard."
Matthews led Dallas with 12 points.
Dirk Nowitzki was held to four points on 2-for-10 shooting. It was his lowest output since scoring one point in 9 minutes Feb. 29, 2012, at Memphis.
San Antonio set a season low for points in any quarter in falling behind 16-14. The Spurs had as many turnovers — three — as baskets in the opening 10 minutes.
The teams combined to open the game shooting 4 for 23.
"Both teams were the same," Popovich said. "Neither one of us could make a basket."
The sluggishness passed for the Spurs following a timeout and the insertion of Simmons. After having his dunk blocked by JaVale McGee, Simmons retreated to beyond the arc for a pair of 3-pointers that put San Antonio up 27-26 with 6:41 remaining.
"We were looking for anybody on the team to make shots," Spurs forward Boris Diaw said. "It got us going."
Simmons finished with 14 points on 5-for-7 shooting, hitting both 3-pointers and both free throws. He played the past two seasons for the Spurs' Development League team in Austin after a season in the defunct American Basketball League. He went undrafted in 2012 after declaring for the draft following his junior season at Houston.
Aldridge scored 13 of the Spurs' 16 points in a 5-minute stretch during the second quarter, earning a double-tap high-five and smile from Tim Duncan following a timeout.
Diaw added 16 points, and Kawhi Leonard had 15 points for San Antonio.
Dallas coach Rick Carlisle was ejected 43 seconds into the final quarter. After receiving a technical foul from Sean Corbin for arguing a non-call, Carlisle was ejected after walking to midcourt and sarcastically clapping at Corbin.
TIP-INS
Mavericks: Zaza Pachulia was assessed a flagrant one foul late in the first half after throwing an elbow to the back of Patty Mills' head while they fought for position on a rebound. ... Dallas has lost 11 straight in San Antonio. The Mavericks' previous regular-season victory at the AT&T Center was Nov. 26, 2010.
Spurs: Golden State (37-4) has a 1 1/2-game lead over San Antonio in the Western Conference as well as for the league's best record. This season marks the first time in league history that multiple teams have won at least 35 games at the midpoint of the season.
UP NEXT
Mavericks: Host Boston on Monday night.
Spurs: At Phoenix on Thursday night.
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