Spurs 126, Cavaliers 96
SAN ANTONIO -- Guard Danny Green had 17 points to lead the San Antonio Spurs to their 10th straight victory with an easy 126-96 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night.
Off to their best start in franchise history, the Spurs (13-1) had four other players in double figures, including starting guard Tony Parker with 12 points and center Tiago Splitter with 10.
Guards Patty Mills and Marco Belinelli came off the bench to score 15 and 10 respectively for the Spurs, who have won their last eight games by an average 15-point margin.
The Cavaliers (4-10), who have lost their last six of seven games, were led by center Andrew Bynum who had 16 points. Guards Kyrie Irving added 15, Dion Waiters 11 and Matthew Dellavedova 12.
The Spurs had their most complete performance of season from beginning to end, behind an offense that was in sync shooting 67 percent (16 of 24) behind the arc and 58 percent (46-of 80) from the field. All 13 Spurs players scored.
With their offense in gear, the Spurs would push the lead to a game high 43-points when Green connected one of his five 3-pointers, making 75-32 with 10 minutes in the third.
As they entered the fourth quarter, Spurs coach Popovich opted to rest this Big Three -- Parker, forward Tim Duncan and guard Manu Ginobili -- for the remainder of the game.
They earned their rest by starting off hot from the 3-point line, hitting 5 of 8 in the first quarter, and taking a 30-21 lead.
The Spurs put the game out of reach in the second quarter, outscoring the Cavs 33-11. When Parker hit a 17-foot jump shot with 29 seconds left, the Spurs had built a 35-point lead. San Antonio went into the locker room up 65-32, with Parker and Splitter both scoring 10 points in the half.
Cleveland, coming off a loss Friday night to the New Orleans Pelicans, had 15 field goals through the first two periods.
Bynum, who had 10 points at the half, started strong, cutting the lead to two when his short jumper rattled in, making it 13-11 in the first. It was the closest Cleveland would be for the rest of the game.
NOTES: Cleveland's defense has stepped it up this year, allowing teams to shoot only .437 from the field which is third best in the Eastern Conference and eighth in the NBA. ... Spurs F Boris Diaw was scratched before the game, out with a right rib contusion. Diaw suffered the injury in Friday night's contest with the Memphis Grizzlies when he fell into photographer's row. He is averaging 11.1 points off the bench. ...Cleveland coach Mike Brown is familiar with San Antonio. He spent three seasons (2000-03) as an assistant coach under Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. ... The Spurs are atop the Western Conference standings in large part because they are taking care of the ball. They rank fifth in fewest turnovers (14.1) and sixth in assists (24.2).
