Parker leads Spurs past Pelicans, 102-95


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NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Tony Parker scored 21 of his 32 points in the second half and also doled out nine assists, and the San Antonio Spurs overcame a 14-point deficit en route to a 102-95 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night.

Tim Duncan scored 16 of his 21 points in the second half, and Marco Belinelli added 13 against his former club.

Anthony Davis had 17 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks, Anthony Morrow added 20 points and Eric Gordon scored 19 points for the Pelicans, who appeared in line for their fifth win in six games when they led by 14 near the end of the third quarter.

The Spurs, however, had other plans, outscoring New Orleans 38-19 in the final period.

Down the stretch, Parker strung together an array of dazzling driving layups through crowds of defenders. His highlights included a crossover dribble that wrong-footed Davis at the top of the key and left the lane wide open.

Duncan had a difficult first half, hitting only two of his first eight shots and even missing a dunk, but looked like his usual self when it mattered.

He opened the third quarter by making five of seven shots. Parker scored 10 points in the quarter, and his scoop shot had San Antonio as close as 65-62 with 3:13 left in the period, but New Orleans managed to regain its rhythm once more while the Spurs briefly came a bit unhinged.

Shortly after Morrow's 3 made it 70-62, Parker and Duncan were called for technical fouls on the same offensive possession. Morrow made both free throws, then got fouled and made two more foul shots, and New Orleans went back up by 14 Greg Stiemsma's tip-in.

San Antonio simply wouldn't go away, tightening up its defense and forcing four Pelicans turnovers in the first six minutes of the final quarter.

Danny Green, returning from a broken left hand to play for the first time in 10 games, made his first shot _ a 3-pointer _ on his seventh attempt with 7:24 to go to pull the Spurs to 82-78. Parker completed the comeback a few plays later with his driving floater that tied it at 82 with 5:48 to go.

The Pelicans shot nearly 57 percent in the first half (21 of 37) and led for most of it.

After a tight first quarter in which Tyreke Evans hurt his right ribs and briefly went to the training room for treatment, the Pelicans started to pull away with a mostly reserve lineup.

Anthony Morrow made five of his first six shots, including a 3 that put New Orleans up 36-29. The lead grew as large as 13 in the quarter on Davis' turnaround jumper.

The opening half was a frustrating one for Duncan, who shot 2 for 8 and even missed a dunk. Parker, who had 11 points in the opening half, trimmed San Antonio's deficit to 51-42 with a 13-foot jumper. But Gordon, responded by hitting his second 3 of the game, which gave him 12 in the first half and put the Pelicans up 54-42 heading into the locker room.

NOTES: Green finished with 7 points in 30 minutes in what was his first action since Jan. 12. ... Evans played only five minutes, leaving the game for good after hurting his right ribs in a collision with Matt Bonner. ... The halftime performer, tight-rope artist Fletcher Runyan, drew empathetic groans from the crowd when he fell and straddled the rope. After sitting on the rope with a pained expression on his face for several seconds, he gingerly got back up, landed a successful backflip, then smiled and waved as he walked off the court to applause.

(Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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