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05-20-2005, 02:35 AM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA052005.1D.BKNspurs.sonics.gamer6.28fd51e60.htm l
Spurs pass late test: Duncan hits winner on Ginobili feed
Web Posted: 05/20/2005 02:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
SEATTLE — Tim Duncan had missed inside and out. He had watched one jump hook after another slide off the rim, and his evening had just gone from bad to worse, with one roll of his left ankle.
As Duncan jogged down the court, laboring on one good leg, he spied Robert Horry at the scorer's table. He turned and shouted to Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, "I'm not coming out! I'm not coming out!"
Popovich eventually forced his MVP to the sideline. For 11 seconds. When the Spurs needed him most, Duncan was right where they needed him.
With Seattle threatening to send the Western Conference semifinal into overtime — and possibly on to an anything-can-happen Game 7 — Duncan caught Manu Ginobili's pass and banked in a hook with .5 seconds left, lifting the Spurs to a clinching 98-96 victory Thursday night at KeyArena.
Said Duncan: "It's just great to get out of this series."
The Spurs will face either Phoenix or Dallas in the conference finals. Game 1 will be either Sunday or Tuesday, depending on when the Suns and Mavericks conclude their series.
After watching Derek Fisher throw in a heart-breaking 16-footer last season when it appeared they had the Los Angeles Lakers beat with .4 seconds left, the Spurs couldn't exhale Thursday until Ray Allen's shot from the left corner clanged off the rim.
"I can't lie to you," Popovich said of Fisher's shot from last season. "That's all I was thinking about.
"We were fortunate to escape, and that's what we did — escape."
Duncan missed 15 of 21 shots but made all but one of his six baskets in the final quarter. He went 14 for 17 from the line. He had a lot of help.
Horry buried a 3-pointer with 1:48 left in the see-saw fourth quarter. Tony Parker made a couple of clutch shots down the stretch. And Ginobili, two days after scoring 39 points, made the pass that counted.
After Antonio Daniels tied the game on a free throw with 14.4 seconds left, the Spurs called timeout, then isolated Ginobili above the key. As Ginobili started his drive, Popovich told Duncan to run from the left block to right.
Ginobili penetrated, then found Duncan, who banked in the jump hook.
"Manu came straight down the middle and got me a shot at the rim," Duncan said, "and I was able to knock it down."
With 8:08 left in the game, Duncan rolled his left ankle after landing on the foot of Seattle forward Nick Collison. Duncan, who already had sprained his right ankle three times this season, grabbed his foot in pain as he rolled onto his back. He pushed himself up then walked determinedly to the other basket, scowling the entire way.
Duncan made his free throws and stayed in the game. Favoring his foot as he ran, he spotted up and drilled an 18-footer.
It was only Duncan's second basket of the game. He didn't make his first until 4:59 remained in the third quarter.
Bruce Bowen predicted the Sonics would open the game like "crazed dogs," and he was right. The crowd, on its feet from the start, let out a thunderous roar when the players took the court.
With nine of their 14 players set to become free agents and the contracts of coach Nate McMillan and general manager Rick Sund also expiring, the Sonics played with the urgency of a team uncertain about its future. At the start of the season, Seattle was expected to finish near the bottom of the Western Conference.
"Everything we do now is like icing on the cake," Sonics center Jerome James said. "We've already had our steak and potatoes in making it to the playoffs."
That said, Seattle apparently wanted a little more frosting. Allen said he expected the game to be the most physical of the series, and the teams followed through.
Danny Fortson cracked Duncan over the back for a flagrant foul near the end of the third quarter. In the final quarter, the Sonics' training staff scrambled to clean up blood on James and Damien Wilkins. Official Danny Crawford was even knocked off his feet into a group of courtside photographers.
In the third quarter, a fan threw a plastic water bottle in the direction of the Spurs' bench.
Ginobili bruised his right quadriceps in a collision with Wilkins on the final possession of the opening quarter. He continued to play — he wore a sleeve over his thigh to start the second half — but was obviously sore.
"When you go to the hole as often as he does, you're going to get hit," Popovich said. "He's diving on the floor; he's going to the boards. He's fearless. It doesn't deter him at all."
When it mattered most, Ginobili lowered his head and drove one more time. Duncan watched and waited. Standing right where the Spurs needed him.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Spurs pass late test: Duncan hits winner on Ginobili feed
Web Posted: 05/20/2005 02:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
SEATTLE — Tim Duncan had missed inside and out. He had watched one jump hook after another slide off the rim, and his evening had just gone from bad to worse, with one roll of his left ankle.
As Duncan jogged down the court, laboring on one good leg, he spied Robert Horry at the scorer's table. He turned and shouted to Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, "I'm not coming out! I'm not coming out!"
Popovich eventually forced his MVP to the sideline. For 11 seconds. When the Spurs needed him most, Duncan was right where they needed him.
With Seattle threatening to send the Western Conference semifinal into overtime — and possibly on to an anything-can-happen Game 7 — Duncan caught Manu Ginobili's pass and banked in a hook with .5 seconds left, lifting the Spurs to a clinching 98-96 victory Thursday night at KeyArena.
Said Duncan: "It's just great to get out of this series."
The Spurs will face either Phoenix or Dallas in the conference finals. Game 1 will be either Sunday or Tuesday, depending on when the Suns and Mavericks conclude their series.
After watching Derek Fisher throw in a heart-breaking 16-footer last season when it appeared they had the Los Angeles Lakers beat with .4 seconds left, the Spurs couldn't exhale Thursday until Ray Allen's shot from the left corner clanged off the rim.
"I can't lie to you," Popovich said of Fisher's shot from last season. "That's all I was thinking about.
"We were fortunate to escape, and that's what we did — escape."
Duncan missed 15 of 21 shots but made all but one of his six baskets in the final quarter. He went 14 for 17 from the line. He had a lot of help.
Horry buried a 3-pointer with 1:48 left in the see-saw fourth quarter. Tony Parker made a couple of clutch shots down the stretch. And Ginobili, two days after scoring 39 points, made the pass that counted.
After Antonio Daniels tied the game on a free throw with 14.4 seconds left, the Spurs called timeout, then isolated Ginobili above the key. As Ginobili started his drive, Popovich told Duncan to run from the left block to right.
Ginobili penetrated, then found Duncan, who banked in the jump hook.
"Manu came straight down the middle and got me a shot at the rim," Duncan said, "and I was able to knock it down."
With 8:08 left in the game, Duncan rolled his left ankle after landing on the foot of Seattle forward Nick Collison. Duncan, who already had sprained his right ankle three times this season, grabbed his foot in pain as he rolled onto his back. He pushed himself up then walked determinedly to the other basket, scowling the entire way.
Duncan made his free throws and stayed in the game. Favoring his foot as he ran, he spotted up and drilled an 18-footer.
It was only Duncan's second basket of the game. He didn't make his first until 4:59 remained in the third quarter.
Bruce Bowen predicted the Sonics would open the game like "crazed dogs," and he was right. The crowd, on its feet from the start, let out a thunderous roar when the players took the court.
With nine of their 14 players set to become free agents and the contracts of coach Nate McMillan and general manager Rick Sund also expiring, the Sonics played with the urgency of a team uncertain about its future. At the start of the season, Seattle was expected to finish near the bottom of the Western Conference.
"Everything we do now is like icing on the cake," Sonics center Jerome James said. "We've already had our steak and potatoes in making it to the playoffs."
That said, Seattle apparently wanted a little more frosting. Allen said he expected the game to be the most physical of the series, and the teams followed through.
Danny Fortson cracked Duncan over the back for a flagrant foul near the end of the third quarter. In the final quarter, the Sonics' training staff scrambled to clean up blood on James and Damien Wilkins. Official Danny Crawford was even knocked off his feet into a group of courtside photographers.
In the third quarter, a fan threw a plastic water bottle in the direction of the Spurs' bench.
Ginobili bruised his right quadriceps in a collision with Wilkins on the final possession of the opening quarter. He continued to play — he wore a sleeve over his thigh to start the second half — but was obviously sore.
"When you go to the hole as often as he does, you're going to get hit," Popovich said. "He's diving on the floor; he's going to the boards. He's fearless. It doesn't deter him at all."
When it mattered most, Ginobili lowered his head and drove one more time. Duncan watched and waited. Standing right where the Spurs needed him.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[email protected]