tinysands
2007-04-12, 01:42 PM
Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) avert scare: Duncan, Finley power late surge against Kings
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA041207.01D.BKNspurs.kings.gamer.371bd65.html
Web Posted: 04/12/2007 12:19 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
The Sacramento Kings pushed ahead of the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) with a little more than 10 minutes left Wednesday night, and Tim Duncan (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tim_duncan) was taking his usual break on the bench.
With only a week left in the season, Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) coach Gregg Popovich could have cut Duncan's worknight short and let Fabricio Oberto (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/fabricio_oberto) or Matt Bonner (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/matt_bonner) try to rally the team. Not, however, with the Western Conference's No. 2 playoff seed still undecided.
After Popovich returned him to the floor, Duncan scored 13 of his 26 points to lead the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) past the Kings for a 109-100 victory at the AT&T Center. The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) trail the second-seeded Phoenix Suns — who beat Seattle on Wednesday — by two games with just four to play, but Popovich doesn't see reason to call off the chase yet.
"I don't have the right to take away the team's opportunity to get home-court advantage," Popovich said. "So we have to keep playing. I just think that's the bottom line."
Duncan and Michael Finley, who scored 10 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter, kept the Spurs' chances of moving up in the standings alive for another night. With his team struggling to put away the Kings, Duncan made all five of his shots in the final quarter and 11 of 14 for the night.
"We were letting him get the ball where he likes it," Sacramento forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim said, "and when a player that good gets those kind of looks, it's tough to stop him."
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) had almost as difficult a time containing the Kings. Mike Bibby scored 22 points while making four of Sacramento's 10 3-pointers, one shy of the most for a Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) opponent this season.
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) trailed to start the fourth quarter but helped hold Sacramento to 4 of 18 shooting the rest of the way.
"Our rotations were really poor tonight," said Tony Parker (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tony_parker), who contributed 14 points, eight assists and six rebounds. "We didn't play good pick-and-roll defense, so that's stuff we can work on."
Meanwhile, the Kings' season will end next week. They pushed the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) in a taxing, six-game first-round series in 2006, but they will miss the playoffs for the first time since 1998.
Sacramento was missing starting forward Ron Artest, who, after playing Tuesday in Memphis, was a late scratch because of a sore left hamstring. Center Brad Miller left after nine minutes because of a sore left foot.
Artest's and Miller's replacements, however, gave the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) enough trouble. Francisco Garcia scored 22 points while rookie forward Justin Williams did his best Ike Diogu impersonation, totaling 15 points and 10 rebounds, six on offense.
"Tim Duncan (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tim_duncan) is Tim Duncan (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tim_duncan)," Sacramento coach Eric Musselman said. "He had an MVP-type of performance, but so did a guy named Justin Williams."
Unlike Williams, Duncan carried his team to victory. After Popovich put him back on the floor with the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) trailing 84-80, he immediately spun inside for a basket and a foul. On the next possession, Duncan, who also had 13 rebounds, four blocks and four assists, found Jacque Vaughn (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/jacque_vaughn) for a layup.
Finley helped keep the Kings at bay, making a 3-pointer, an 18-footer and another 3-pointer in the span of four possessions.
"We have great playmakers on our team and they're setting the table," Finley said. "I'm just getting to the table and eating."
Manu Ginobili (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/manu_ginobili) (14 points and six assists) and Parker did most of the table-setting. After tweaking his back in Monday's victory over Portland, Parker played 34 minutes while missing eight of his 13 shots.
"I was a little bit tight," Parker said. "But I felt OK, not too bad. Better than what I expected."
Robert Horry (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/robert_horry) and Brent Barry (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/brent_barry), who made his first two 3-point attempts, also returned from injuries, giving the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) their usual 12-man roster for a full game for the first time since March 23.
As usual, the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) continued to lean on Duncan. Or, in the case of Ginobili, land on him.
After Parker missed a short jump shot late in the second quarter, Ginobili flashed to the rim and jammed the rebound — over Duncan's head.
"I had no idea who it was until I turned around and there was a white jersey hanging on my shoulders," Duncan said. "It was supposed to be my rebound. He's supposed to be my teammate. He's supposed to be my boy.
"That's fine. I'll get him back. I don't know when it's going to be, but I'll get him back."
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA041207.01D.BKNspurs.kings.gamer.371bd65.html
Web Posted: 04/12/2007 12:19 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
The Sacramento Kings pushed ahead of the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) with a little more than 10 minutes left Wednesday night, and Tim Duncan (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tim_duncan) was taking his usual break on the bench.
With only a week left in the season, Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) coach Gregg Popovich could have cut Duncan's worknight short and let Fabricio Oberto (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/fabricio_oberto) or Matt Bonner (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/matt_bonner) try to rally the team. Not, however, with the Western Conference's No. 2 playoff seed still undecided.
After Popovich returned him to the floor, Duncan scored 13 of his 26 points to lead the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) past the Kings for a 109-100 victory at the AT&T Center. The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) trail the second-seeded Phoenix Suns — who beat Seattle on Wednesday — by two games with just four to play, but Popovich doesn't see reason to call off the chase yet.
"I don't have the right to take away the team's opportunity to get home-court advantage," Popovich said. "So we have to keep playing. I just think that's the bottom line."
Duncan and Michael Finley, who scored 10 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter, kept the Spurs' chances of moving up in the standings alive for another night. With his team struggling to put away the Kings, Duncan made all five of his shots in the final quarter and 11 of 14 for the night.
"We were letting him get the ball where he likes it," Sacramento forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim said, "and when a player that good gets those kind of looks, it's tough to stop him."
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) had almost as difficult a time containing the Kings. Mike Bibby scored 22 points while making four of Sacramento's 10 3-pointers, one shy of the most for a Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) opponent this season.
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) trailed to start the fourth quarter but helped hold Sacramento to 4 of 18 shooting the rest of the way.
"Our rotations were really poor tonight," said Tony Parker (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tony_parker), who contributed 14 points, eight assists and six rebounds. "We didn't play good pick-and-roll defense, so that's stuff we can work on."
Meanwhile, the Kings' season will end next week. They pushed the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) in a taxing, six-game first-round series in 2006, but they will miss the playoffs for the first time since 1998.
Sacramento was missing starting forward Ron Artest, who, after playing Tuesday in Memphis, was a late scratch because of a sore left hamstring. Center Brad Miller left after nine minutes because of a sore left foot.
Artest's and Miller's replacements, however, gave the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) enough trouble. Francisco Garcia scored 22 points while rookie forward Justin Williams did his best Ike Diogu impersonation, totaling 15 points and 10 rebounds, six on offense.
"Tim Duncan (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tim_duncan) is Tim Duncan (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tim_duncan)," Sacramento coach Eric Musselman said. "He had an MVP-type of performance, but so did a guy named Justin Williams."
Unlike Williams, Duncan carried his team to victory. After Popovich put him back on the floor with the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) trailing 84-80, he immediately spun inside for a basket and a foul. On the next possession, Duncan, who also had 13 rebounds, four blocks and four assists, found Jacque Vaughn (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/jacque_vaughn) for a layup.
Finley helped keep the Kings at bay, making a 3-pointer, an 18-footer and another 3-pointer in the span of four possessions.
"We have great playmakers on our team and they're setting the table," Finley said. "I'm just getting to the table and eating."
Manu Ginobili (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/manu_ginobili) (14 points and six assists) and Parker did most of the table-setting. After tweaking his back in Monday's victory over Portland, Parker played 34 minutes while missing eight of his 13 shots.
"I was a little bit tight," Parker said. "But I felt OK, not too bad. Better than what I expected."
Robert Horry (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/robert_horry) and Brent Barry (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/brent_barry), who made his first two 3-point attempts, also returned from injuries, giving the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) their usual 12-man roster for a full game for the first time since March 23.
As usual, the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) continued to lean on Duncan. Or, in the case of Ginobili, land on him.
After Parker missed a short jump shot late in the second quarter, Ginobili flashed to the rim and jammed the rebound — over Duncan's head.
"I had no idea who it was until I turned around and there was a white jersey hanging on my shoulders," Duncan said. "It was supposed to be my rebound. He's supposed to be my teammate. He's supposed to be my boy.
"That's fine. I'll get him back. I don't know when it's going to be, but I'll get him back."