Duncan scores 19 to lead Spurs past Hornets

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(AP) Tim Duncan scored 19 points to lead San Antonio to a 128-103 victory over the New Orleans Hornets on Friday night, giving the Spurs their 10th straight win and moving them atop the Western Conference standings.

Manu Ginobili and Patty Mills scored 14 points each and Stephen Jackson and Gary Neal added 13 apiece to help the Spurs sweep the four-game season series against New Orleans.

Eric Gordon, playing in only his second game in three months, scored 31 points to lead the Hornets, who have lost four of their last five games. Marco Belinelli had 15 points, Carl Landry scored 13, and Greivis Vasquez added 12.

The win, coupled with Oklahoma City’s loss to Indiana, moved the Spurs percentage points ahead of the Thunder for first place in the West. A loss by Houston later Friday against the Los Angeles Lakers would clinch San Antonio’s 15th consecutive playoff berth.

The last time the Spurs didn’t make the playoffs was in 1996-97, the season before Duncan arrived.

San Antonio jumped out to a 72-45 halftime lead and was never threatened the second half.

The easy win gave the Spurs their second streak of at least 10 victories they won 11 straight earlier this season and also allowed coach Gregg Popovich to rest his stars.

Popovich has carefully managed minutes all season in anticipation of the playoffs, something easier to do now with a bench strengthened by the additions of Mills, Jackson and Boris Diaw. Against the Hornets, Duncan played only 20 minutes, Ginobili had 21 and Tony Parker played 16.

The Hornets were without point guard Jarrett Jack for the second straight game. Jack, who has a right foot sprain, averages 15.6 points and 6.3 assists per game. Against the Spurs, Jack had been particularly effective, averaging 26.5 points and 7 assists in two games.

“I think it’s one of those things that may take some time to heal,” coach Monty Williams said before the game.

Vasquez started in Jack’s place but had only four points in the first half.

Ginobili scored 13 points on 5-for-5 shooting in the first half to help San Antonio take its big lead. The Spurs outscored the Hornets 38-21 in the second quarter to essentially put the game away.

As effective as the Spurs starters were Duncan shot 8 for 9 the reserves were even more impressive as they totaled 82 points, led by Ginobili.

NOTES: The Spurs shot a season-high 51 for 84 and had 31 assists. New Orleans had 11 assists. ... Twelve of the Spurs’ 13 active players saw action in the first half. Matt Bonner didn’t score and James Anderson didn’t play until late in the fourth quarter. ... The Spurs have had at least a 10-game winning streak during each of the past two seasons. They won 11 straight last year.