Spurs Dominate on #12's Retirement Night; Parker's Leaves W/Injury

Bowen's #12 was retired
by the San Antonio
Spurs tonight

Tonight was expected to be a special night for the Spurs' organization, but the team had to play a game against the Timberwolves before Bruce Bowen's #12 was hung from the rafters at the AT&T Center.  The Spurs came out of the gate and took the lead, even though Tony Parker left the game with a left hamstring strain.  San Antonio led by nine at halftime and Tim Duncan already had a double-double.  The Spurs began the second half on a 20-9 run and led by twenty halfway through the third quarter.  With Parker's injury, Duncan needed the help from his teammates and three players stepped up.  Kawhi Leonard, Stephen Jackson, and Gary Neal each scored 16 points in the game and combined for six 3-pointers in the game.  Jackson, who was traded to San Antonio on Thursday for Richard Jefferson, returned tonight to the Alamo City where he won the 2003 NBA Championship with the team.  Duncan finished as the game's leading scorer and San Antonio escaped with a 116-100 victory to begin the special night at the AT&T Center.

Following the game, Bruce Bowen's #12 was hung from the AT&T Center rafters and he certainly deserved the honor.  He was an important part of three Spurs' championship teams (2003, 2005, and 2007) and made the NBA All-Defense Team eight times.  He played 8 seasons for the Spurs' organization, starting 500 consecutive games and playing a total of 630 games.  Bowen's #12 becomes the franchise's seventh retired jersey, joining Johnny Moore (0), Avery Johnson (6), James Silas (13), Sean Elliott (32), George Gervin (44), and David Robinson (50) atop the AT&T Center.  Bowen was known for his deadly defense and corner 3's, but his service to the San Antonio community has made him apart of the city forever.