SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Tony Parker scored 17 points before leaving the game after a hard fall and the San Antonio Spurs beat the New Orleans Hornets 113-96 on Wednesday night.
Parker landed with a thud on his right side after slicing between fellow All-Star Chris Paul and Hilton Armstrong for a layup late in the third quarter. He lay scrunched up and wincing for more than a minute before walking back to the bench on his own.
The contact set off heated words between Paul and Spurs newcomer Richard Jefferson, who were both hit with technical fouls at midcourt upon being separated.
Paul led all scorers with 26 points and Emeka Okafor had 18 points and 10 rebounds in his Hornets debut after sitting out the preseason with an injured toe.
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