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NBA champs Spurs thrash Hornets to force deciding game seven

AFP - Friday, May 16

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (AFP) - - Reigning National Basketball Association champions San Antonio kept their season alive Thursday with an emphatic 99-80 victory over the New Orleans Hornets.

Manu Ginobili scored 25 points and Tim Duncan added 20 points with 15 rebounds for the Spurs, who fended off elimination and forced a decisive game seven in their Western Conference second-round series.

Now the Spurs must secure the first victory by a road team in the series at New Orleans Arena on Monday if they are to keep their title defense alive.

The third quarter again proved crucial, as San Antonio outscored New Orleans 20-12 in the period.

"Ugly, that third quarter was ugly," said New Orleans point guard Chris Paul, who battled through foul trouble to finish with 21 points and eight assists.

But it was a welcome change for the Spurs, who had been outscored by the Hornets 93-46 in the third quarter of the games in New Orleans in this series.

"There's something about them third quarters," Paul said. "After game five they felt like they couldn't get a break, same thing for us tonight."

The Spurs took a 78-63 lead into the final period. Ginobili, who was 6-of-9 from 3-point range, then hit back-to-back 3-pointers to open the quarter and give the Spurs a 21-point lead that the Hornets would never challenge.

Duncan took a seat on the bench shortly thereafter.

"The whole series, man, third quarter looks like its pivotal," said San Antonio's Tony Parker. "Tonight we did a good job. "We played pretty good defense, offense, got a good lead, once again everybody rested in the fourth quarter."

The Spurs jumped to a 36-24 lead in the first quarter behind Duncan's 10-points, San Antonio shooting 71 percent from the field in the opening period.

In the second quarter, the Hornets scored five straight to narrow the gap somewhat, cutting their deficit to 46-39 with 6:17 left in the quarter.

Ginobili responded, however, knocking down two straight 3-pointers which gave the Spurs a 52-43 lead with 4:05 left in the half en route to a 58-51 advantage at the break.

Early in the third, Paul's running jumper cut the Spurs' lead to 60-55. But Paul and David West committed some costly fouls.

The pair combined for five quick fouls just under three minutes into the third. West, who had three fouls in 26 seconds, also received a technical for arguing his last infraction.

Things didn't get better for West, who caught a forearm in his back on a pick by veteran San Antonio forward Robert Horry and was knocked to the floor.

West stayed down a few moments before he was taken to the locker room.

A few possessions later, a bounce pass from Duncan to Fabricio Oberto gave the Spurs a 65-55 lead with 8:05 left in the third.

San Antonio started applying the pressure when Parker, who had 15 points, hit a 3-pointer from the corner that gave the Spurs a 68-57 lead.

On the next play, Paul found Tyson Chandler for a lob dunk, but it wasn't enough to spark the Hornets to greater things.

Paul insisted the margin of victory was of no concern.

"The great thing about it, when game seven comes we're not down 20," he said. "We don't have to take it into the next game."

Instead, Paul said, the Hornets would welcome a final show down on home turf with the defending champions.

"Game seven in New Orleans, let's go," said Paul. "This is what we play for. They're the defending champions, they aren't going to lay down for us.

"Got to get ready ... the city of New Orleans they're going to be ready. I'm excited."

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