National Basketball Association

Duncan, Spurs top 76ers for 5th straight win

Published Nov. 30, 2009 4:10 a.m. ET

foxsports

The San Antonio Spurs won their fifth straight behind franchise centerpiece Tim Duncan.

The Philadelphia 76ers lost their sixth straight while hounded by speculation that their former star, Allen Iverson, might come back to rescue a deepening dismal start.

Duncan led San Antonio in scoring for the sixth time in eight games with 22 points, and the Spurs beat the Sixers 97-89 on Sunday night to extend their longest winning streak since pulling themselves out of a similar early slump last December.

"We really shouldn't care that much about winning five in a row," Spurs guard Manu Ginobili said. "It's always good. It helps your confidence, and of course your standings, but we still believe we've got a long way to go."