Thursday, May 15, 2008

  • Spurs blow Hornets, series back to New Orleans

    2008 NBA PLAYOFFS SPECIAL COVERAGE- WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS GAME 6
    Game played May 15, 2008

    SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The San Antonio Spurs, the defending champions on the brink of elimination, forced Game 7 in their Western Conference semifinal series with a resounding 99-80 defeat of New Orleans. Manu Ginobili led the way offensively with 25 points.

    The Spurs blew the game open in the third quarter, as has been the pattern all series long for the winning team. San Antonio made an 8-2 run early in the quarter, compounded by Hornets mistakes. Tony Parker hit a 3-pointer, Tim Duncan and Fabricio Oberto had two points and Ginobili hit a free throw during the stretch. Meanwhile, New Orleans committed three offensive fouls in four possessions, with Chris Paul picking up back-to-back personals in transition and David West being assessed a foul, then earning a technical foul for arguing. After the spurt, the Spurs led, 68-57.

    Then, San Antonio closed the period with a 10-2 run, during which the Hornets missed nine straight field goals. Duncan picked up four points and Ginobili and Ime Udoka hit 3s for a 78-63 lead at the end of the third that New Orleans would not threaten again.

    The Spurs took the lead for good in the first quarter. Down 15-12, the Spurs went on a 24-8 run, hitting seven straight shots from the field. Udoka surprisingly led the charge with seven points during the spurt, while Parker added six, Bruce Bowen scored five, Duncan added four and Ginobili netted two for a 36-23 lead.

    In the second period, the Hornets made a run. Paul hit a jumper, then Morris Peterson made a 3 and Tyson Chandler dunked to cut the deficit to 46-41.

    However, Ginobili hit back-to-back 3-pointers for a 52-43 advantage to reassert control. Paul then made an acrobatic layup to end the half. The Spurs held a 58-51 lead at the half.

    San Antonio blew it open in the fourth, making one last 11-2 run, with Ginobili hitting two 3-pointers, Udoka making a 3 and Michael Finley nailing a jumper for an 89-65 lead.

    For the Spurs, Duncan scored 20 points, Parker added 15 and Udoka scored 13. Duncan picked up 15 boards in the effort.

    New Orleans was led by Paul’s 21 points. Chandler, playing with a bruised left foot, scored 14 points and Peja Stojakovic added 13. West, who left early in the fourth quarter after a Robert Horry hard pick in the back caused his back trouble to flare up again, scored 10 in the loss.

    Game 7 will take place in New Orleans Monday. If the Spurs win, they will continue to work toward winning their fifth title in 10 seasons; the Hornets will seek passage to their first conference finals berth in team history.

    Video credit- ESPN

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