Kori Ellis
04-03-2005, 03:40 AM
Guard hits layup with 6.7 seconds left to beat Lakers
Web Posted: 04/03/2005 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA040305.1C.BKNspurs.lakers.gamer.19dd7cdcb.html
With the sellout crowd of 18,797 on its feet and a single point separating the Spurs from the Los Angeles Lakers, Rasho Nesterovic put the ball in Brent Barry's hands late Saturday and hoped for the best.
The two had tried connecting on a similar handoff two weeks earlier only to have Barry drive into a crowd of defenders. This time as Barry strode toward the rim, he had only one thought.
If I don't make this, coach is going to be really mad at Rasho for handing it to me.
Barry rescued not only Nesterovic, but also everyone else wearing a Spurs uniform. He barreled through Lakers forward Caron Butler and twisted in the go-ahead layup with 6.7 seconds remaining. After Kobe Bryant rimmed out a jump shot at the buzzer, the Spurs danced off the SBC Center floor with a 95-94 victory.
"We've been working hard trying to hold the fort until we get some guys back," Barry said. "And the way we've been working, we deserve to have a couple bounces go our way."
One night after being run out of Denver, the Spurs pieced together their fourth victory since losing Tim Duncan and Devin Brown. All four have come in the comfort of the SBC Center, where they are 35-3 and assured of the best home record in franchise history.
Barry led with 20 points and four 3-pointers. Tony Parker distributed nine assists and scored seven of his 17 points in the final 5:05. Manu Ginobili, grinding on heavy legs, had eight points, six assists and eight rebounds.
Bruce Bowen limited Bryant to 15 points on 6-of-19 shooting. Robert Horry contributed 13 points, eight rebounds and one well-timed block.
"The team showed tremendous heart," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.
Less than 24 hours earlier, the Spurs suffered through their worst shooting performance of the season while losing 102-84 in Denver. After landing at San Antonio International Airport at 3:30 a.m., they spent half of the first quarter rubbing the sleep from their eyes.
Ginobili, without a single defender within 3 feet, dribbled the ball off his knee out of bounds. The rest of the Spurs' first six possessions were just as productive as the Lakers ran off the game's first 11 points.
Horry and Barry helped shoot the Spurs out their coma, although the team's fatigue showed itself in other ways: In the first 15 minutes, Los Angeles took 10 offensive rebounds and scored 13 second-chance points.
Ginobili looked particularly worn. In addition to missing eight of his 12 shots, he committed seven turnovers. He scrapped through it all, drew three charges and produced a critical steal that led to a 3-pointer from Parker after the Lakers had gone ahead 88-84 with less than six minutes remaining.
"Manu is probably the finest competitor I've ever been around," Popovich said. "He doesn't quit. He just keeps going."
Ginobili drove baseline for a finger roll to put the Spurs ahead 91-90 with 2:59 remaining. Parker extended the lead with a 17-foot fadeaway that he watched drop from the seat of his shorts.
After Brian Grant pulled the Lakers within a point, Butler looked ready to give them the lead when he drove to the rim. At the last instant, Horry flashed in front of him and swatted the ball all the way past the 3-point line.
Butler got even on the Spurs' next possession. Ginobili lost his dribble while trying to curl around Nesterovic's screen and the Lakers forward scooped up the ball, turning the turnover into a one-point lead with 14.3 seconds left.
After the Spurs used a pair of timeouts, Nesterovic caught the ensuing inbounds pass on the right wing. Ginobili was the play's first option, but Nesterovic handed the ball to Barry as he cut through the lane.
"I saw him running like crazy," Nesterovic said, "so I figured something must really be open behind me."
Barry ran into Butler, who fell to the ground. The collision gave Barry the separation he needed to bank in the runner.
"I thought it was a charge," said Lakers coach Frank Hamblen. "All of Ginobili's flops early in the game become important at the end of the game when that happens."
The Lakers, who fell 71/2 games behind the Western Conference's final playoff spot, still had one final shot. The Spurs switched on Los Angeles' pick-and-roll, leaving Horry in front of Bryant. Instead of trying to take the ball to the rim, Bryant pump-faked Horry off his feet and raised up from 18 feet.
The shot clanged off the side of the rim. Bryant turned and walked off the court as the Spurs celebrated behind him.
Web Posted: 04/03/2005 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA040305.1C.BKNspurs.lakers.gamer.19dd7cdcb.html
With the sellout crowd of 18,797 on its feet and a single point separating the Spurs from the Los Angeles Lakers, Rasho Nesterovic put the ball in Brent Barry's hands late Saturday and hoped for the best.
The two had tried connecting on a similar handoff two weeks earlier only to have Barry drive into a crowd of defenders. This time as Barry strode toward the rim, he had only one thought.
If I don't make this, coach is going to be really mad at Rasho for handing it to me.
Barry rescued not only Nesterovic, but also everyone else wearing a Spurs uniform. He barreled through Lakers forward Caron Butler and twisted in the go-ahead layup with 6.7 seconds remaining. After Kobe Bryant rimmed out a jump shot at the buzzer, the Spurs danced off the SBC Center floor with a 95-94 victory.
"We've been working hard trying to hold the fort until we get some guys back," Barry said. "And the way we've been working, we deserve to have a couple bounces go our way."
One night after being run out of Denver, the Spurs pieced together their fourth victory since losing Tim Duncan and Devin Brown. All four have come in the comfort of the SBC Center, where they are 35-3 and assured of the best home record in franchise history.
Barry led with 20 points and four 3-pointers. Tony Parker distributed nine assists and scored seven of his 17 points in the final 5:05. Manu Ginobili, grinding on heavy legs, had eight points, six assists and eight rebounds.
Bruce Bowen limited Bryant to 15 points on 6-of-19 shooting. Robert Horry contributed 13 points, eight rebounds and one well-timed block.
"The team showed tremendous heart," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.
Less than 24 hours earlier, the Spurs suffered through their worst shooting performance of the season while losing 102-84 in Denver. After landing at San Antonio International Airport at 3:30 a.m., they spent half of the first quarter rubbing the sleep from their eyes.
Ginobili, without a single defender within 3 feet, dribbled the ball off his knee out of bounds. The rest of the Spurs' first six possessions were just as productive as the Lakers ran off the game's first 11 points.
Horry and Barry helped shoot the Spurs out their coma, although the team's fatigue showed itself in other ways: In the first 15 minutes, Los Angeles took 10 offensive rebounds and scored 13 second-chance points.
Ginobili looked particularly worn. In addition to missing eight of his 12 shots, he committed seven turnovers. He scrapped through it all, drew three charges and produced a critical steal that led to a 3-pointer from Parker after the Lakers had gone ahead 88-84 with less than six minutes remaining.
"Manu is probably the finest competitor I've ever been around," Popovich said. "He doesn't quit. He just keeps going."
Ginobili drove baseline for a finger roll to put the Spurs ahead 91-90 with 2:59 remaining. Parker extended the lead with a 17-foot fadeaway that he watched drop from the seat of his shorts.
After Brian Grant pulled the Lakers within a point, Butler looked ready to give them the lead when he drove to the rim. At the last instant, Horry flashed in front of him and swatted the ball all the way past the 3-point line.
Butler got even on the Spurs' next possession. Ginobili lost his dribble while trying to curl around Nesterovic's screen and the Lakers forward scooped up the ball, turning the turnover into a one-point lead with 14.3 seconds left.
After the Spurs used a pair of timeouts, Nesterovic caught the ensuing inbounds pass on the right wing. Ginobili was the play's first option, but Nesterovic handed the ball to Barry as he cut through the lane.
"I saw him running like crazy," Nesterovic said, "so I figured something must really be open behind me."
Barry ran into Butler, who fell to the ground. The collision gave Barry the separation he needed to bank in the runner.
"I thought it was a charge," said Lakers coach Frank Hamblen. "All of Ginobili's flops early in the game become important at the end of the game when that happens."
The Lakers, who fell 71/2 games behind the Western Conference's final playoff spot, still had one final shot. The Spurs switched on Los Angeles' pick-and-roll, leaving Horry in front of Bryant. Instead of trying to take the ball to the rim, Bryant pump-faked Horry off his feet and raised up from 18 feet.
The shot clanged off the side of the rim. Bryant turned and walked off the court as the Spurs celebrated behind him.