Spurs 108, Kings 101: Tony Parker returned to the lineup and collected 22 points and 10 assists as host San Antonio easily handled Sacramento and kept pace atop the Western Conference.

Tim Duncan added 18 points and Kawhi Leonard scored 15 for the Spurs, who remain a half-game behind the Oklahoma City Thunder in the race for the top spot in the West. The Thunder are playing later Friday at Portland.

DeMarcus Cousins recorded 19 points and 12 rebounds and Jason Thompson scored 18 as the Kings dropped to 8-31 on the road and lost their sixth straight in the series.

San Antonio made its move early, getting nine points from Leonard in the first quarter to open up a 23-13 lead. Parker, who had missed three of the last four games with an ankle injury, started to get going at the end of the second and scored 13 points in the final 3:38 of the period to keep it a 10-point gap at the break.

Sacramento fought back to within a point in the third quarter but never managed to take the lead. Parker scored five during a 9-0 run to push it back to double figures and the Spurs led by 15 after Parker’s jumper with 3:01 left in the game before letting off the gas.

GAME NOTEBOOK: San Antonio waived veteran F Stephen Jackson on Friday. … Groups from both Seattle and Sacramento are reportedly increasing or restructuring their bids for the Kings. The Maloof family, which owns the team, had imposed a Friday deadline for the Sacramento group to put together a package equal to Seattle’s, though the NBA Board of Governors will ultimately decide the fate of the franchise. … Sacramento F Patrick Patterson (back) returned after a two-game absence and scored eight points in 18 minutes off the bench.