JOSE M. ROMERO
Associated Press
PHOENIX (AP) — Goran Dragic scored 20 points to help the Phoenix Suns beat the short-handed San Antonio Spurs 121-90 on Thursday night in an exhibition game.
The Spurs played without five top players and coach Gregg Popovich.
Popovich, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili did not make the trip to Phoenix so they could rest after the Spurs played exhibition games in Turkey and Germany last week. Assistant coach Ettore Messina guided the Spurs from the bench. Kawhi Leonard (right eye infection), Tiago Splitter (calf strain) and Patty Mills (shoulder) also sat out San Antonio.
Suns owner Robert Sarver made an announcement to the fans, apologizing to those left with 2:31 left for watching a game missing many big-name players. He told fans they could send in their ticket stubs and receive a free gift from the team.
Austin Daye led the Spurs with 17 points. All-Star guard Tony Parker played through only about half the third quarter and scored nine before departing for good.
Suns guard Zoran Dragic, Goran Dragic’s brother, was not with the team while the native of Slovenia deals with an international visa issue.
The Spurs (1-2) return home to play the Miami Heat in preseason action on Saturday, while the Suns (3-1) continue exhibition play next Tuesday against the Lakers in Los Angeles.
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