THE Spurs ended a rare skid with a 118-102 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday in San Antonio (Monday, Manila time).
Pau Gasol came up with 22 points off the bench, making 7 of 11 field goal attempts, and wound up just a rebound short of a double-double.
The Spurs were coming off back-to-back losses to Western Conference teams Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies.
The last time San Antonio lost two straight was in January, also to Western Conference teams, bowing to the New Orleans Pelicans and Dallas Mavericks.
In November the Spurs also absorbed back-to-back defeats at the hands of the Western Conference’s Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets.
LaMarcus Aldridge came up with 18 points on 8 of 13 shooting, while Tony Parker had 16 points and seven assists.
Kawhi Leonard went 3 for 12 and wound up with 12 points as the Spurs notched their 53rd win in 69 games.
The Kings absorbed their second straight loss and 43rd in 70 outings.
Willie Cauley-Stein and Buddy Hield scored 18 each for Sacramento.