duncan228
02-19-2009, 11:38 PM
Spurs enjoy successful end to stressful day (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Spurs_enjoy_successful_end_to_stressful_day.html)
Jeff McDonald
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The NBA trade deadline came and went Thursday, and the Spurs subtracted players instead of added.
None of the deals they had pursued went down, most notably a failed last-ditch bid for the Clippers’ Marcus Camby. Manu Ginobili, however, did – ruled out for the next two to three weeks with a stress reaction in his right leg.
Faced with a day that was, by all measures, a real bummer, the Spurs found a way to smile.
They earned a fabulous ugly, brutal, ratings-zapping 83-79 victory over the Pistons at the Palace.
Tim Duncan had 18 points and 18 rebounds, and Tony Parker chipped in 19 points and 11 assists as the Spurs avoided their first three-game losing streak of the season.
The Spurs (36-17) have displayed a penchant for playing tight games of late. They lost a two-point decision at Toronto before the All-Star break, and fell into overtime to New York just after it.
Thursday’s game no different, save the smiles in the Spurs post-game locker room.
The Spurs won with several defensive stands down the stretch. After Iverson zipped to a layup to put the Pistons ahead 79-78 with 1:21 to go, Detroit never scored again.
Parker answered with a drive, drawing a foul on Rasheed Wallace and making two foul shots to put the Spurs ahead again. Down three, the Pistons (27-26) had a chance to tie with 5.9, but Iverson missed a deep 3-pointer.
Duncan rebounded, was fouled, and made one-of-two free throws to seal the game.
Iverson finished with 31, but hounded often by Bruce Bowen off the bench, needed 28 shots to get there. Also of note: Richard Hamilton, who had moved to the bench to be Detroit’s super-sub, had four more points than Ginobili did Thursday.
The Spurs’ rodeo trip concludes Saturday in Washington. After that, they return home for three games against playoff contenders – Dallas, Portland and Cleveland.
They will do so without Ginobili, who missed his second consecutive game Thursday, and is due to miss many more.
Jeff McDonald
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The NBA trade deadline came and went Thursday, and the Spurs subtracted players instead of added.
None of the deals they had pursued went down, most notably a failed last-ditch bid for the Clippers’ Marcus Camby. Manu Ginobili, however, did – ruled out for the next two to three weeks with a stress reaction in his right leg.
Faced with a day that was, by all measures, a real bummer, the Spurs found a way to smile.
They earned a fabulous ugly, brutal, ratings-zapping 83-79 victory over the Pistons at the Palace.
Tim Duncan had 18 points and 18 rebounds, and Tony Parker chipped in 19 points and 11 assists as the Spurs avoided their first three-game losing streak of the season.
The Spurs (36-17) have displayed a penchant for playing tight games of late. They lost a two-point decision at Toronto before the All-Star break, and fell into overtime to New York just after it.
Thursday’s game no different, save the smiles in the Spurs post-game locker room.
The Spurs won with several defensive stands down the stretch. After Iverson zipped to a layup to put the Pistons ahead 79-78 with 1:21 to go, Detroit never scored again.
Parker answered with a drive, drawing a foul on Rasheed Wallace and making two foul shots to put the Spurs ahead again. Down three, the Pistons (27-26) had a chance to tie with 5.9, but Iverson missed a deep 3-pointer.
Duncan rebounded, was fouled, and made one-of-two free throws to seal the game.
Iverson finished with 31, but hounded often by Bruce Bowen off the bench, needed 28 shots to get there. Also of note: Richard Hamilton, who had moved to the bench to be Detroit’s super-sub, had four more points than Ginobili did Thursday.
The Spurs’ rodeo trip concludes Saturday in Washington. After that, they return home for three games against playoff contenders – Dallas, Portland and Cleveland.
They will do so without Ginobili, who missed his second consecutive game Thursday, and is due to miss many more.