Ex-'Bow Carter lifts San Antonio in opener
Associated Press
San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich insisted that after the championship rings were handed out, his players would wipe last season from their memories and think only of the games ahead.
Associated Press
Well, the jewelry was distributed before last night's opener against Phoenix, and the Spurs seemed to forgot too much too soon.
San Antonio guard Manu Ginobili looks for an opening while being guarded by Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire, left, and Jake Voskuhl.
But with time almost gone, they remembered how to win.
Anthony Carter's layup with 28 seconds to play lifted the Spurs to an 83-82 victory in a game in which San Antonio trailed by as many as 15 points in the opening minutes and led for a total of 46 seconds.
Carter, starting in place of the injured Tony Parker, helped seal the win with his defense on Stephon Marbury on the final possession.
"It was looking real ugly at the beginning but we knew we had a 48-minute game," said Carter, a former University of Hawai'i standout. "Everybody just stayed focused and did their job."
He finished with 10 points and six assists in his first game as a Spur.
Marbury, who finished with 24 points, tried to isolate Carter, but the Suns point guard could manage only an awkward 18-foot jumper with about nine seconds remaining.
Marbury got his own rebound and missed another jumper that was rebounded by the Suns' Penny Hardaway, who missed a 14-footer. The ball was being batted around when time expired.
"(Carter) had him at the end and stayed with him and contested his shot," Popovich said. "He made it tough for him."
Suns coach Frank Johnson said his team played good defense, but he credited the Spurs.
"That's what's so great about this game," he said. "You keep fighting and clawing and maybe something good happens."
Tim Duncan led the Spurs with 24 points and 12 rebounds, while Malik Rose had 12 points.
Shawn Marion added 20 points for Phoenix.
• 76ers 89, Heat 74: Allen Iverson had 26 points and 11 assists, and Kenny Thomas added 15 points as the host Philadelphia 76ers beat the Miami Heat in the season opener for both teams.
New Sixers coach Randy Ayers, Larry Brown's top assistant for six seasons, won his debut. Brown left Philadelphia for Detroit.
Miami coach Stan Van Gundy, promoted last week after Pat Riley stepped down, lost his first game. Riley remains the team president.
Dwyane Wade scored 18 points in his first NBA game. Eddie Jones scored 15 points and Brian Grant added 13 for the Heat, who played all but the first eight minutes without forward Lamar Odom. Odom sprained his right ankle. X-rays were negative.
NOTES
• James to debut in new Nikes: LeBron James' new sneakers should help him drive to the basket.
After all, they're modeled after the Cleveland Cavaliers rookie's infamous Hummer.
Tonight, James will make his NBA debut in Sacramento wearing his signature Nikes, dubbed the "Zoom Generation."
The shoes, which will retail for $160 per pair, are the first of six models James will wear as part of the $90 million sports apparel deal he signed with Nike in May.
The design was inspired by James' Hummer H2 sports utility vehicle, which made headlines earlier this year when the Ohio High School Athletic Association investigated how his mother bought it for her son's 18th birthday.
• Szczerbiak to miss season opener: Timberwolves forward Wally Szczerbiak will be out at least two weeks with a sore left foot and will miss tonight's opener against Milwaukee.
Szczerbiak has an inflamed arch and could be placed on the injured list if the team finds a suitable free agent, coach Flip Saunders said Tuesday.
Timberwolves point guard Troy Hudson already is on the injured list with a sprained ankle.
Szczerbiak, whose only preseason appearance came Oct. 22 at Boston, felt a tear while making a cut during a scrimmage Saturday.
