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First Posted: 11/6/2013

(AP) Tony Parker scored 15 of San Antonio’s final 16 points and the Spurs withstood a hectic finish to beat the Phoenix Suns 99-96 on Wednesday night.


Parker scored 20 overall, Danny Green had 19 points, Tim Duncan added 17 points and Boris Diaw 11 points for San Antonio (4-1).


Markieff Morris tied a career high with 23 points and also had 11 rebounds for Phoenix (3-2). Morris’ twin brother, Marcus, added 11 points and Gerald Green and Miles Plumlee each had 15 points.


Plumlee’s reverse layup gave Phoenix a 96-95 lead with 1 minute remaining. The Suns had an opportunity to extend the lead following a miss by Duncan, but Manu Ginobili drew a charge on Danny Green.


Parker followed with a short jumper to give San Antonio the lead for good.


Gerald Green missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have tied the game.


After each team went on runs during the first half, San Antonio and Phoenix exchanged leads seven times in the second half.


Ginobili, who entered the game averaging 12.3 points, gave San Antonio a burst of energy upon entering as the game’s first sub. He had five points and two assists in 3 minutes, making his first 3-point attempt to put San Antonio up 23-14 with 3 minutes left in the first quarter.


Ginobilli finished with nine points.


San Antonio’s big men were overwhelmed by the athleticism of the Morris twins, especially Markieff, who set up a series of dunks and drives to the basket with his outside jumper. Morris was 11 for 13 from the field.


NOTES: Diaw started for Tiago Splitter, who started San Antonio’s first four games this season. . With Gregg Popovich inches away screaming for a call, John Goble calmly took a step back after blowing his whistle, motioned for the Spurs coach to settle down and then called traveling on P.J. Tucker. . The Spurs returned 12 players, the second most in franchise history only to last season’s 13. . San Antonio, Miami and Denver are the only teams without a rookie on their roster. . Matt Bonner was a scratch after tweaking his ankle during the second half of San Antonio’s 102-94 victory at Denver. He is day to day. . Duncan was assessed his first technical of the season after apparently complaining to Danny Crawford away from the ball on a 3-pointer by Parker with 4 minutes left in the game.


Associated Press