Leonard, Spurs beat Grizzlies after Parker leaves
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Kawhi Leonard matched his career high with 26 points, Manu Ginobili had a season-high 26 and the San Antonio Spurs eased to a 112-92 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday after losing Tony Parker to injury.
Parker's status is unknown after he was forced to leave with back spasms early in the first quarter.
The All-Star point guard took a hard fall as he drove the lane, landing squarely on his back near the free throw line after being fouled by Memphis' Mike Conley with 7:38 left. Parker remained on the court for about a minute, but rose and continued playing before exiting with 2:41 remaining in the first.
Tim Duncan added 13 points for San Antonio (60-17), which bounced back after its franchise-record, 19-game winning streak was snapped Wednesday in Oklahoma City.
James Johnson had 20 points and Conley added 18 points for Memphis (45-32), which is chasing a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol shot a combined 6 for 16, finishing with eight and six points, respectively.
Parker finished with 10 points, going 4 for 4 from the field with an assist in nine minutes.
He waved for team physician Dr. Paul Saenz as he walked through the tunnel to go back to the locker room. San Antonio general manager R.C. Buford soon followed.
Leonard took over offensively with Parker out, showing off his expanding offensive game with a series of driving layups, pull-up jumpers and going 2 for 2 on 3-pointers. The 6-foot-7, third-year forward was 12 for 13 from the field.
Parker was extremely active during his short night, helping the team overcome a lethargic start.
After San Antonio missed its first two shots, Parker drove the lane for one of his teardrop shots, worked his way through screens for 21- and 17-foot jumpers and made a pair of free throws as part of a 12-2 opening run for San Antonio.
Parker later drove left into the lane, spinning away from Conley and between a closing Randolph to scoop in a layup with 5 minutes left in the first quarter.
NOTES: San Antonio has three games remaining away from the AT&T Center, but has already secured the league's best road record. The Spurs are 29-9 entering a two-game road trip that begins Tuesday in Minnesota and ends Thursday at Dallas. Their final road game is April 14 against Houston. . Randolph received the loudest boos among Memphis' starters during pregame introductions, as San Antonio fans apparently still remember the bruising postseason battles between the two clubs. . San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich was given a technical foul by official Tony Brown with 14.8 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Popovich was incensed no foul was called after Marco Belinelli was pushed out of bounds while trying to save a ball. Popovich charged toward Brown after the technical, but was held back by Spurs assistants Ime Udoka and Jim Boylen.