eWoss Sports: San Antonio Spurs News & Notes

Bruce Bowen (Small Forward)

8/22/2006

NEWS:

The San Antonio Spurs said Tuesday that Parker will not need surgery on his broken right index finger that sidelined him for the French national team at the World Championships. The Spurs point guard was examined by the team's medical staff Monday and will be sidelined for 4-6 weeks. That timeline should have him ready by the start of NBA training camp in early October.

NOTES:

Parker sustained the injury a week ago in a French exhibition game against Argentina, catching his finger in an opponents jersey. He's entering his sixth NBA season and averaged 18.9 points and 5.8 assists in 80 games for the Spurs last season.

8/17/2006

NEWS:

Bowen was cut from the U.S. basketball team on Thursday. The team needed to be down to 12 players, and the San Antonio Spurs' defensive specialist was the final cut before the start of the world championships on Saturday. "He was selected because we felt he had a legitimate chance to make it because of the skills he brought to the table," USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo said. "He lasted a lot longer than others with bigger names and larger statistics."

NOTES:

Jackie Butler (Forward-Center)

8/16/2006

NEWS:

The San Antonio Express-News is reporting that Parker may be unavailable for the opening game of the World Championships after injuring his finger while grabbing a player's jersey.

NOTES:

Francisco Elson (Center)

8/2/2006

NEWS:

The Spurs added another center Wednesday, signing Elson from Denver. He joins Jackie Butler, a center signed last month after the departures of the Spurs' top two centers. Rasho Nesterovic was traded to Toronto, and Nazr Mohammed signed with Detroit as a free agent.

NOTES:

Elson averaged career highs of 4.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 21.9 minutes in 72 games for the Nuggets last season.

7/21/2006

NEWS:

The Spurs signed Butler on Friday. He was a restricted free agent who spent the last two seasons with the New York Knicks. The Spurs have recently lost two centers, Rasho Nesterovic and Nazr Mohammed. Nesterovic was traded to the Toronto Raptors in June for forwards Matt Bonner and Eric Williams and a second-round pick in 2009. Mohammed signed with the Detroit Pistons earlier this week.

NOTES:

Last year with the Knicks, Butler played in 53 games, averaging 5.3 points and 3.3 rebounds in 13.5 minutes a game.

Matt Bonner (Forward-Center)

6/21/2006

NEWS:

Toronto traded Bonner, along with Eric Williams and a second-round pick in 2009, to San Antonio on Wednesday for center Rasho Nesterovic and cash. Bonner, who is in the final year of his contract, averaged 7.5 points and 3.6 rebounds last season. "Bonner is a big guy who has the unique ability of knocking down the outside shot, which will help us spread the floor," Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said.

NOTES:

Eric Williams (Guard-Forward)

6/21/2006

NEWS:

Toronto traded Williams, along with Matt Bonner and a second-round pick in 2009, to San Antonio on Wednesday for center Rasho Nesterovic and cash. Williams, who is in the final year of his contract, played just 28 games last season and will join his sixth team. "Williams gives us a steady veteran presence and some added depth at the forward position," Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said.

NOTES:

Williams, an 11-year veteran, has averaged 8.8 points and 3.3 rebounds during his career, but struggled to a career-low 3.3 points last season.

5/14/2006

NEWS:

Duncan scored 35 points and added 12 rebounds in the Spurs' 104-103 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals on Saturday. It was his second 30-point and 10-rebound performance in the series as he tries to help the Spurs back to the NBA finals.

NOTES:

5/7/2006

NEWS:

Duncan had his best game of the postseason, scoring 20 of his 31 points in the first half to help San Antonio defeat Dallas 87-85 on Sunday in Game 1 of their Western conference semifinal series. The Spurs forward, who has been slowed by a foot injury for most of the season, made the Mavericks pay for not double-teaming him, scoring 10 of San Antonio's first 12 points in the second quarter.

NOTES:

He also added 13 rebounds and four assists to help put the top-seeded Spurs on the path toward another possible NBA title.

4/26/2006

NEWS:

Ginobili scored a season-high 32 points in the Spurs' 128-119 overtime win over the Kings on Tuesday.

NOTES:

Ginobili's previous season high was 29 points against Indiana on Feb. 12, and his postseason high is 39 points scored against Seattle last May 17.

4/23/2006

NEWS:

Parker had 25 points, five rebounds and four assists in the Spurs' lopsided 122-88 win over the Sacramento Kings on Saturday in Game 1 of their Western Conference playoff series. San Antonio led 73-39 at halftime and shot 57.5 percent for the game. Parker made 9-of-11 shots in the first half.

NOTES:

Not a bad first game for Parker and Co. The 6-foot-2 San Antonio point guard averaged a team-high 18.9 points and 5.8 assists during the regular season, including 21.3 points and 6.3 assists in three games versus Sacramento.

4/12/2006

NEWS:

Parker scored 27 points on 13-of-19 shooting and had nine assists in San Antonio's 104-95 win over Seattle on Tuesday night.

NOTES:

Parker is averaging 19.2 points on 54.6 percent shooting and 5.9 assists in 77 games this season. The Spurs are 15-0 when Parker scores at least 25 points. He scored a season-high 38 points on Jan. 20 at Miami.

4/10/2006

NEWS:

Ginobili missed Sunday's 83-81 victory over the Grizzlies with left calf and left shin contusions. The shooting guard is averaging 15.1 points, 3.6 assists and 3.5 rebounds in 62 games this season. His status is uncertain for Tuesday's matchup with the SuperSonics.

NOTES:

Brent Barry started in Ginobili's place on Sunday and was 0-for-3 from the field with no points.

3/29/2006

NEWS:

Parker sat out San Antonio's 98-87 win over the Clippers on Tuesday night because of a sore right shin. The point guard was accidentally kicked during Sunday's 106-102 loss to Seattle. The injury isn't considered serious and Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Parker may be available to play Thursday night when San Antonio visits the Lakers.

NOTES:

Parker is enjoying the best season of his five-year career, averaging 19.1 points, 5.9 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 70 games.

3/25/2006

NEWS:

Foul trouble limited Duncan's performance for the Spurs on Friday. He scored a season-low six points while adding seven rebounds and six assists in a win over the Trail Blazers.

NOTES:

3/19/2006

NEWS:

Ginobili sat out Saturday night's road game against the Houston Rockets with a bruised left calf and quadriceps. The San Antonio Spurs' guard suffered the injury in Friday's 108-102 win over the Phoenix Suns. He'd missed 13 games earlier this season with injuries to his right ankle and foot.

NOTES:

Ginobili is San Antonio's third-leading scorer, averaging 14.8 points. His 3.5 assists per game is second-most on the Spurs' team.

Michael Finley (Guard-Forward)

3/13/2006

NEWS:

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Duncan and Manu Ginobili might sit in the second half of the Spurs' four remaining back-to-back games if the players look fatigued.

NOTES:

Beno Udrih (Point Guard)

3/12/2006

NEWS:

Udrih scored 10 points in the Spurs' 88-81 win over the Houston Rockets on Sunday. It marked his fifth consecutive game with double-digit points.

NOTES:

Udrih is averaging 4.4 points with 1.7 assists in 40 games for the Spurs this season.

2/22/2006

NEWS:

Finley made four 3-pointers, including the 1,000th of his NBA career, and scored 14 points in the Spurs' 103-78 win over Seattle on Tuesday night. Finley spent the first 10 seasons of his NBA career with the Mavericks before signing with San Antonio in the offseason. The swingman is averaging 9.5 points in 26.8 minutes this season.

NOTES:

Finley became the 34th player in NBA history to reach 1,000 3-pointers made. Reggie Miller is the all-time leader with 2,560.