SAN ANTONIO -- The fact that San Antonio weathered a spate of injuries and a road trip that lasted nearly a month did not surprise Detroit coach John Loyer. But the efficiency the Spurs showed in their return home and return to health left him and the Pistons a bit awe-struck. Marco Belinelli had 20 points to lead eight San Antonio players in double figures, and the Spurs worked through a lethargic start to beat the Pistons 120-110 on Wednesday night. Playing without injured All-Star point guard Tony Parker, San Antonio matched its season high with 34 assists while going 44 for 82 from the field (54 per cent). "Against the Spurs, you do not guard against two or three players; you guard a system of players," Loyer said. "They just plug guys in and find a way. Their ability to shoot the basketball separates them from being a very good team to close to a great team." Kawhi Leonard had 15 points for San Antonio in his return from a 14-game absence due to a broken finger. Manu Ginobili scored 16 points, Tim Duncan and Tiago Splitter had 13 apiece, Boris Diaw added 12, Patty Mills 11 and Cory Joseph 10. Ginobili had a team-high nine assists, Splitter added six and Leonard, Diaw and Belinelli had four each as the Spurs tied the season mark they set Jan. 4 against the Los Angeles Clippers. "You get 34 assists, thats really incredible," San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. "So the ball movement was fantastic, the pace, we rebounded a little better. It was a good win for them, being on the road so long. Coming home, they were a little anxious, playing a little fast in the first half. They calmed down and started playing solid basketball." Josh Smith scored 24 points for Detroit, which has lost three straight. Will Bynum added 18 points, Rodney Stuckey 17 and Andre Drummond had 16 points and 17 rebounds. The Spurs got off to a sloppy start despite having two practices during a five-day break following their annual Rodeo Road Trip that lasted nearly a month. "Its a big problem with us and we know it," Duncan said. "I think were trying to play very fast -- a little faster than were used to playing. Guys are trying to be really unselfish and force things some times. Weve got to take care of that at some point. Its a work in progress. Thats what we use the entire season for." The Spurs had 11 turnovers in the opening half, leading to 13 points and some pointed coaching by Popovich. "What the heck are you guys doing?" he screamed during a timeout following consecutive turnovers. In the second half, San Antonio returned to the crisp ball movement that became a staple of its early victories. The Spurs had 10 assists in the third quarter while shooting 12 for 19 from the field. Leonard had the initial assist of the quarter, leaping over a fallen defender to throw a bounce pass that Duncan gathered for a running slam ahead of Smith. "He made a huge difference for us on both ends," Duncan said. "Just having his length in there, especially in situations where theyre very good on the offensive glass. ... It was just great all around to have him back." San Antonio went on a 17-6 run beginning midway through the third to take an 85-75 lead with 2 minutes left in the quarter. Belinelli had seven points in the run and Ginobili added five points and assisted on two of Belinellis baskets. Belinelli returned the favour later, drawing Kyle Singler away defensively on a fast break and dishing to Ginobili for an open layup that gave San Antonio a 111-99 lead with 3:36 remaining in the game. "They are one of the best executing teams in the league," Loyer said. "They are a good team coached by a great coach. There comes a point in the game where you tell yourself you are in the game, down three or four, and then it turns into an 11-point game before you know it." Leonard missed his first two tries from the field in his first game since Jan. 22, coming up a foot short on a 16-foot attempt from the right corner on the games opening shot. He was credited with a follow of a missed free throw that Drummond appeared to tip in. "You got 20,000 fans watching you -- yeah, it took me a while," Leonard said. "Just (trying) to not think about my hand. Just go out there and play." Leonard followed with a 3-pointer and threw down a right-handed dunk on Smith off an alley-oop pass from Joseph. Leonard grabbed the brace on his right hand after the dunk, but quickly rose to race back on defence. "I thought he was great," Popovich said. "Thats a long time to not be on the court. His rhythm was pretty good. He played decent defence, took a few shots and made a couple. He did well. He did better than I would have thought, really, after all that time." Smith scored eight of Detroits final 10 points in the first quarter and had 20 in the first half. "We put up a good fight, but in order to beat an elite team like San Antonio, especially on the road, you have to be able to kind of play perfect basketball," he said. NOTES: Popovich had lunch with former President Bill Clinton, San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro and former mayor Henry Cisneros. Clinton was in town to celebrate Cisneros being honoured with the International Citizen Award from the World Affairs Council of San Antonio. ... Ginobilis left foot burst through the bottom of his sneaker as he planted while guarding Stuckey, leaving the shoe dangling from his ankle as if it had been unzipped. Popovich had the Spurs call a timeout to check on Ginobili, who shrugged when asked what happened. A ball boy quickly raced to the locker room to get a replacement in time for Ginobili to return to the court. "It was a great pit stop," Ginobili said. NMD Canada Online . One out away from finishing off an impressive shutout, they let a must-win game slip away. NMD XR1 Canada . Johnson shared an update after his surgery Tuesday on Twitter. He also wrote, "now lets get on the grind." The running back told The Tennessean he was having surgery in Pensacola, Fla. http://www.nmdshoescanada.com/.com) - Longtime Senators star Daniel Alfredsson returned to Ottawa on Thursday to officially announce his retirement. NMD XR1 Triple Black Canada . The team sent out a press release on Friday stating Poile was resting and recovering and that he will remain in hospital for further observation. The Predators were preparing for the game against the Wild when Poile was hit by a puck that flew off the ice at him where he was standing in a tunnel behind the bench. Ultra Boost 4.0 Canada . Rockhold." Known as an aggressive striker, Belfort (23-10) instead paced himself as the engaged in the early going and showed restraint by not overcommitting against the larger Rockhold (10-2). But when the opportunity presented itself, Belfort delivered an incredible spinning heel kick that landed flush on Rockholds chin and sent him toppling to the floor.JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Ace Sanders wont get to ease back into football.With rookie Marqise Lee (hamstring) ruled out against Pittsburgh and fellow receiver Cecil Shorts III (hamstring) doubtful to play Sunday, Sanders likely will see a heavy workload in his return from a four-game suspension.I dont know what to expect, Sanders said Wednesday. Im just going in, whatever they ask me to do, Ill do it. If it turns out, Ill be ready for it.Sanders missed the first quarter of the season for violating the NFLs substance-abuse policy. He practiced Wednesday for the first time since Aug. 26. It was his fourth time on the field with the Jaguars (0-4) since organized team activities ended in June.Sanders took a 31-day leave of absence in late July, missing all of training camp and most of the preseason. He returned Aug. 24, practiced for three days and played in the preseason finale against Atlanta.He has been in meetings since, but unable to practice or attend games with the team.It could be tough at times, but at the end of the day, its only yourself that you can blame for the reason you were out, said Sanders, who also was the teams primary punt returner in 2013. You couldnt harp on it too much. Just have to look at some of the positive stuff. You actually get a chance to sit down and be a spectator and actually take what you see watching the game and remember that stuff when you get back to play. Thats really what I did.Sanders announced July 22 that he was leaving the team and seeking treatment. The NFL suspended him the next day without pay. Sanders said personal issues caused his misstep and added that he was dealing with a lot of stuff, just wwith life and family and a lot of issues going on.ddddddddddddHe said Wednesday hes in a better place.Being back on the field made him feel even better.I think hes in a really good place right now, coach Gus Bradley said. I know these last couple of weeks were tough on him, but it went fast for him and now hes got a chance. I think hes truly just looking forward where hes at.A fourth-round draft pick in 2013 from South Carolina, Sanders caught 51 passes for 484 yards and a touchdown last season. He became one of 42 rookies over the last 20 years to catch at least 50 passes in their initial season.He was at his best down the stretch, with 35 receptions for 302 yards and a score in the final seven games. The Jaguars are hoping he can pick up where he left off.There will be some natural rust, offensive co-ordinator Jedd Fisch said. Not just the rust, but you have to feel the game a little bit. ... He missed four games and the preseason. This is his first game back. There will be some rust. Were going to have to look at that and see what we can do to help him get going early.Quarterback Blake Bortles, who will make his second start against the Steelers (2-2), hopes to develop a quick rapport with Sanders a€” especially with Lee out and Shorts likely to join him on the sideline Sunday.Having Ace back is a huge help and were excited for him, excited to have him back out there practicing, Bortles said. I look forward to seeing what he can do. ... From watching him run routes last year on film, he does a great job running routes, getting open, hes smart. I look forward to throwing him the football.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '