duncan228
12-11-2008, 12:01 AM
Spurs win on near-empty tank (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Spurs_win_on_near-empty_tank.html)
By Jeff McDonald
Their legs were gone, and so was most of their lead. But Manu Ginobili wouldn't let the Spurs' winning streak end.
The shooting guard took over down the stretch Wednesday night, helping the Spurs come up with enough plays to fend off the frisky Atlanta Hawks, 95-89, at the AT&T Center. The victory was the Spurs' fourth in a row, matching their longest winning streak of the season. It came long on heart, but short on style points.
Coming less than 24 hours after Tuesday night's double-overtime slog at Dallas, the Spurs would take a triumph any way it would come.
Ginobili had 27 points, and Michael Finley made three key baskets and assisted on another in the final 6:34 as the Spurs prolonged the Hawks' misery in San Antonio. It was their 11th straight loss in the Alamo City, a streak dating to the 1996-97 season.
Tim Duncan, playing in his 1,000th game including the playoffs, logged 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Spurs (13-8). Finley scored 15 points, while Matt Bonner chipped in a season-high 13 rebounds.
Joe Johnson had 29 points to pace Atlanta.
Ginobili provided the game's most important basket in the final minute.
Joe Johnson had just brought the Hawks (12-9) within two with a basket in the lane. Ginobili answered on the other end, blowing by Flip Murray and pirouetting past Al Horford for a layup with 32.2 seconds left.
By Jeff McDonald
Their legs were gone, and so was most of their lead. But Manu Ginobili wouldn't let the Spurs' winning streak end.
The shooting guard took over down the stretch Wednesday night, helping the Spurs come up with enough plays to fend off the frisky Atlanta Hawks, 95-89, at the AT&T Center. The victory was the Spurs' fourth in a row, matching their longest winning streak of the season. It came long on heart, but short on style points.
Coming less than 24 hours after Tuesday night's double-overtime slog at Dallas, the Spurs would take a triumph any way it would come.
Ginobili had 27 points, and Michael Finley made three key baskets and assisted on another in the final 6:34 as the Spurs prolonged the Hawks' misery in San Antonio. It was their 11th straight loss in the Alamo City, a streak dating to the 1996-97 season.
Tim Duncan, playing in his 1,000th game including the playoffs, logged 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Spurs (13-8). Finley scored 15 points, while Matt Bonner chipped in a season-high 13 rebounds.
Joe Johnson had 29 points to pace Atlanta.
Ginobili provided the game's most important basket in the final minute.
Joe Johnson had just brought the Hawks (12-9) within two with a basket in the lane. Ginobili answered on the other end, blowing by Flip Murray and pirouetting past Al Horford for a layup with 32.2 seconds left.