NBA-Spurs cut down nets on road trip

The San Antonio Spurs cruised to a 102-85 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Monday to continue their successful trip away from home.

Manu Ginobili returned to the starting line-up with 22 points, one game after coming off the bench for the first time this season, and Tim Duncan added 15 points and 11 rebounds to help the Spurs run their league-best record to 46-9.

San Antonio also improved to 6-2 on their nine-game road trip which concludes in Chicago against the Bulls on Thursday.

"On the road you play those teams, you know you're supposed to win," Spurs point guard Tony Parker told reporters after collecting 13 points and seven assists.

"It's very important to jump on them and start aggressive and make sure you get an early lead."

Following a disappointing loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday, the Spurs' only defeat in the last seven games, coach Gregg Popovich shook things up by starting George Hill in place of Ginobili.

The move sparked San Antonio to a blowout win over the Washington Wizards a day later.

Back in the lineup against New Jersey, Ginobili scored the Spurs' first eight points of the fourth quarter to cap a 16-2 run that gave San Antonio a 20-point lead.

The Nets (17-39) struggled offensively and fell to a seventh loss in their last 10 games.

Brook Lopez recorded 11 points and 10 rebounds and Travis Outlaw added 11 points but New Jersey shot just 34 percent from the field.

"We can't shoot 34 percent and expect to win a game like this against this team," Nets coach Avery Johnson said.