Spurs Give Paris a Win

Tony Parker gave the fans what they came to see.

The Frenchman scored 19 points as the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs opened their exhibition season with a 105-93 victory Wednesday night over the Memphis Grizzlies at Paris.

“It was like a dream, the perfect situation,” Parker said. “I was in front of my home fans. What more can I ask?”

Two-time league most valuable player Tim Duncan added 15 points as the Spurs played for the first time since beating New Jersey to win the title last spring. Spaniard Pau Gasol led Memphis with 17 points

The Bercy arena, packed to its 14,480 capacity, was engulfed in a roar when Parker was introduced. He’s the only Frenchman with an NBA championship ring.

“They say the Parisian public is so hard to please,” Parker said. “So to get them off their seats like that is something special. I’m really touched.

“For me, this is as exciting as an NBA playoff match. I may never have a chance to play in my hometown of Paris as an NBA champion ever again.”

Duncan and fellow Spur Robert Horry also received loud welcomes as the NBA roadshow came to Paris for the first time since 1997 -- when Michael Jordan visited with the Chicago Bulls.

Duncan said the retirement of David Robinson will take some getting used to. He was not there to give the pregame prayer as usual -- a duty Malik Rose will now perform.

“Robinson brought a whole lot of things to the table: experience, leadership, acquired knowledge,” Duncan said. “But this is a new, younger team now, and we’ll build from that.”

Parker was quiet for the first two quarters. But he heated up in the third, scoring 10 points and combining with Duncan and Emanuel Ginobili -- who finished with 13 points -- to give San Antonio the momentum.

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LeBron James had six points, three rebounds and three assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Atlanta Hawks, 83-80, in an exhibition at Asheville, N.C.

James played 30 minutes, shooting three of seven from the field. His shots included an airball and a one-handed breakaway dunk that left the sellout crowd at the Asheville Civic Center buzzing.

James also was scolded by referee Jim Clark for having his shirt untucked before leaving for good with 7:59 left.

In other news, second-year Cleveland guard Dajuan Wagner will need another operation on his injured right knee and will miss the start of the regular season. The Cavaliers would not speculate on his recovery time.

Wagner sat out the final 20 games of his rookie season after having surgery on the knee in March.

The Hawks played without leading returning scorer Shareef Abdur-Rahim, who is still recovering from back surgery.

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The Phoenix Suns signed center Dejan Koturovic and waived guard Trevor Huffman and forward William Pippen, reducing their roster to 18.