Tony Parker was too busy to even think about how many points he scored. Amare Stoudemire thought he had a couple more than he actually did.
Parker had a career-high 55 points, including a 20-footer at the buzzer to force a second overtime, in San Antonio's 129-125 victory at Minnesota on Wednesday night. With the victory, the Spurs avoided their first 0-4 start since 1973 in the ABA.
"I just wanted to win so bad. I was going to try to do everything I can," said Parker, whose previous best was 38 points at Miami in January 2006.
"It's just one of those games. Everything you do, it works. Obviously, everybody knows if I make my jump shots, I can do whatever I want."
In Indianapolis, Stoudemire ended up with 49 points in Phoenix's 113-103 victory over the Pacers. He left the court thinking he had a career-high 51, but had been incorrectly credited with Boris Diaw's fourth-quarter dunk.
"You guys here in Indiana cheated me," said Stoudemire, joking after he finished a point short of his career high of 50 set against Portland in January 2005.
In other National Basketball Association games on Wednesday night, it was: Cavaliers 107, Bulls 93 Lakers 106, Clippers 88 Pistons 100, Raptors 93 Knicks 101, Bobcats 98 Heat 106, 76ers 83 Celtics 96, Thunder 83 Hawks 87, Hornets 79 Bucks 112, Wizards 104 (in overtime) Jazz 103, Trail Blazers 96 Kings 100, Grizzlies 95 and Warriors 111, Nuggets 101.
In Minneapolis, Parker was 22-of-36 from the field, made nine of 10 free throws and had 10 assists and seven rebounds. According to STATS, Inc., the last NBA player to have at least 55 points and 10 assists in a game was Michael Jordan. He had 57 points and 10 assists for Chicago against Washington on December 1992.
"I saw it in his eyes, man. I could tell," Spurs guard Roger Mason said. "He was in that zone, like they say. He kept his foot on the pedal."
Parker also had the most points by an opponent in the Wolves' 20-year history, breaking the mark of 53 set by Shaquille O'Neal for Orlando in 1994.
Tim Duncan had 30 points and 16 rebounds and new acquisition Mason added 26 for San Antonio, which was without All-Star guard Manu Ginobli due to an ankle injury.
Minnesota power forward Al Jefferson recorded 30 points and 14 rebounds, including a short go-ahead bucket with two seconds remaining in overtime, before Parker followed with a 20-footer to tie the game and force an extra session.
"I would say that (Parker) was aggressive," said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "He was magnificent. He pulled us through, that's for sure."
Minnesota guard Mike Miller collected 25 points and five 3-pointers as the Timberwolves fell to 1-3.
In Indianapolis, Stoudemire was 17-of-21 from the field, made 15 free throws without a miss and had 11 rebounds, six assists and five steals.
"Maybe the best game I've ever seen him play," Suns guard Steve Nash said.
Diaw added 14 points for the Suns (4-1).
T.J. Ford and Danny Granger each scored 23 points, and Marquis Daniels added 19 for the Pacers (1-2).
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily November 7, 2008)