SAN ANTONIO, March 25 (UPI) -- Speedy Claxton stepped in for the injured Tony Parker and nearly posted a triple-double Tuesday night as the San Antonio Spurs outclassed the Milwaukee Bucks, 107-94, to reach 50 wins for the fourth straight season.
On a night when the Spurs honored retiring star center David Robinson, Claxton stole the spotlight. He was forced into extended action after Parker - the rapidly improving second-year point guard - suffered a sprained right thumb in the first quarter and did not return.
Claxton responded with his best game of the season. He scored 12 points on 5-of-11 shooting and added career highs of 11 assists and nine rebounds.
Much has been made of Milwaukee's acquisition of Gary Payton, who plays alongside Sam Cassell and gives the Bucks a dual point-guard backcourt. But neither one had much success in slowing down Claxton, who sparked the Spurs to an easy win.
Tim Duncan had 31 points and 10 rebounds for San Antonio (50-21), which is 30-8 since Jan. 1. Since drafting Duncan first overall in 1997, the only season in which the Spurs did not win 50 games was the lockout-shortened 1998-99 campaign, when they went 37-13 and won the NBA championship.
Robinson, one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players, started and collected 10 points and five rebounds in 20 minutes.
