Gregg Popovich sacrificed the Spurs’ 11-game win streak to rest Tim Duncan and Tony Parker in his team’s 137-97 blowout loss Tuesday night at Portland.

“(Tim) and Tony need a rest,” Popovich said before tipoff. “Everybody's played a lot of games, and somewhere along the line, everybody gives somebody a rest, and I think we've reached that point.

“Whether it's three games in four nights or X nights before, I don't know, I've lost track. But we've been going and going and going, and if we don't do it now, I think we're asking for trouble later.”

Duncan and Parker joined in injured players Tiago Splitter, Manu Ginobili and T.J. Ford on the Spurs' inactive list.

“We've had the same goal for 15 years: To be the best team we can possibly be come playoff time,” Popovich said before the game. “We've never ever talked about what our record should be, whether we are going to win a championship, or not. Never. It's never come up in any practice or game for 15 years.

“We just try to get better every day, and whatever happens, happens.”