ducks
11-08-2005, 07:09 PM
San Antonio (3-1) at Charlotte (2-2)
Preview - Box Score - Recap
Game Info: 7:30 pm EST Wed Nov 9, 2005
TV: FxSW Add to Calendar
Buy Tickets
The San Antonio Spurs' most recent performance showed why they are favored to win a second straight NBA title.
The defending champions, coming off a strong overtime win, visit the Charlotte Bobcats in the middle of their five-game road trip.
San Antonio and Chicago battled to a 91-all tie at the end of regulation on Monday before the Spurs took control in the extra period to win 104-95.
Tony Parker scored eight of his 22 points in overtime, making two strong drives to the hoop and hitting four free throws, and Tim Duncan finished with 24 points and 16 rebounds to help the Spurs bounce back from a 103-84 loss at Dallas on Saturday.
``We showed some good composure,'' Duncan said. ``Nobody panicked. Nobody forced shots. We took every possession and tried to get a good shot ... and defensively, we were contesting shots very well.''
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Parker also had nine assists and Duncan blocked six shots, giving him 1,505 in his career. Nazr Mohammed added 15 points on 7-for-8 shooting off the bench and Manu Ginobili scored 14.
The Spurs, allowing 91.3 points per game, won their ninth straight over the Bulls and improved to 16-6 following a loss since the start of last season.
San Antonio's trip continues at Boston on Friday before closing Saturday against Washington.
The Bobcats opened the season with a 109-105 overtime loss to the Bulls before back-to-back victories over Philadelphia and Boston gave them a shot at the franchise's first three-game win streak going into Monday's game against Utah. Charlotte won two straight only three times during its inaugural 2004-05 season.
However, Jazz forward Mehmet Okur scored a career-best 31 points to lead Utah to a 95-91 overtime win -- already Charlotte's third overtime game of the season.
It's only the third time in NBA history a team has opened the season with three OT games in its first four outings, and the first since the Los Angeles Lakers in 1991.
Primoz Brezec, Sean May and Jumaine Jones scored 13 points, and Emeka Okafor added 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Bobcats, who lost despite making 12 steals and forcing 22 turnovers.
Gerald Wallace, leading the team with 16.5 points per game, did not play in the second half after getting hit in the head in the second quarter. Kareem Rush was scoreless in 12 minutes as he continues to be bothered by a sore thumb.
Bobcats coach Bernie Bickerstaff had to pair veteran point guard Brevin Knight with rookie Raymond Felton in the backcourt for most of the final 17 minutes because of the injuries.
``We were searching,'' Bickerstaff said. ``They say a drowning man will grab a razor blade. That group gave us some energy and got us back into the game.''
Wallace and Rush are not expected to play in this contest.
Charlotte closes a four-game homestand against Dallas on Friday.
STANDINGS (through Nov. 7): Spurs - 1st place, Southwest Division. Bobcats - 2nd place (tied), 1 1/2 GB, Southeast Division.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Spurs - F Bruce Bowen, F Duncan, C Rasho Nesterovic, G Parker, G Ginobili. Bobcats - F Wallace, F Okafor, C Brezec, G Felton or Keith Bogans, G Knight.
TEAM LEADERS: Spurs - Parker, 22.5 ppg and 5.8 apg; Duncan, 12.0 rpg. Bobcats - Wallace, 16.5 ppg; Okafor, 11.5 rpg; Knight, 7.5 apg.
2004-05 SEASON SERIES: Spurs, 2-0.
LAST MEETING: March 18; Spurs, 93-76. At San Antonio, Parker scored 24 points and the Spurs held the Bobcats scoreless over the final 6:05 of the third quarter to sweep the first season series between the teams.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Spurs - 1-1 on the road; Bobcats - 1-1 at home.
Preview - Box Score - Recap
Game Info: 7:30 pm EST Wed Nov 9, 2005
TV: FxSW Add to Calendar
Buy Tickets
The San Antonio Spurs' most recent performance showed why they are favored to win a second straight NBA title.
The defending champions, coming off a strong overtime win, visit the Charlotte Bobcats in the middle of their five-game road trip.
San Antonio and Chicago battled to a 91-all tie at the end of regulation on Monday before the Spurs took control in the extra period to win 104-95.
Tony Parker scored eight of his 22 points in overtime, making two strong drives to the hoop and hitting four free throws, and Tim Duncan finished with 24 points and 16 rebounds to help the Spurs bounce back from a 103-84 loss at Dallas on Saturday.
``We showed some good composure,'' Duncan said. ``Nobody panicked. Nobody forced shots. We took every possession and tried to get a good shot ... and defensively, we were contesting shots very well.''
ADVERTISEMENT
Parker also had nine assists and Duncan blocked six shots, giving him 1,505 in his career. Nazr Mohammed added 15 points on 7-for-8 shooting off the bench and Manu Ginobili scored 14.
The Spurs, allowing 91.3 points per game, won their ninth straight over the Bulls and improved to 16-6 following a loss since the start of last season.
San Antonio's trip continues at Boston on Friday before closing Saturday against Washington.
The Bobcats opened the season with a 109-105 overtime loss to the Bulls before back-to-back victories over Philadelphia and Boston gave them a shot at the franchise's first three-game win streak going into Monday's game against Utah. Charlotte won two straight only three times during its inaugural 2004-05 season.
However, Jazz forward Mehmet Okur scored a career-best 31 points to lead Utah to a 95-91 overtime win -- already Charlotte's third overtime game of the season.
It's only the third time in NBA history a team has opened the season with three OT games in its first four outings, and the first since the Los Angeles Lakers in 1991.
Primoz Brezec, Sean May and Jumaine Jones scored 13 points, and Emeka Okafor added 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Bobcats, who lost despite making 12 steals and forcing 22 turnovers.
Gerald Wallace, leading the team with 16.5 points per game, did not play in the second half after getting hit in the head in the second quarter. Kareem Rush was scoreless in 12 minutes as he continues to be bothered by a sore thumb.
Bobcats coach Bernie Bickerstaff had to pair veteran point guard Brevin Knight with rookie Raymond Felton in the backcourt for most of the final 17 minutes because of the injuries.
``We were searching,'' Bickerstaff said. ``They say a drowning man will grab a razor blade. That group gave us some energy and got us back into the game.''
Wallace and Rush are not expected to play in this contest.
Charlotte closes a four-game homestand against Dallas on Friday.
STANDINGS (through Nov. 7): Spurs - 1st place, Southwest Division. Bobcats - 2nd place (tied), 1 1/2 GB, Southeast Division.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Spurs - F Bruce Bowen, F Duncan, C Rasho Nesterovic, G Parker, G Ginobili. Bobcats - F Wallace, F Okafor, C Brezec, G Felton or Keith Bogans, G Knight.
TEAM LEADERS: Spurs - Parker, 22.5 ppg and 5.8 apg; Duncan, 12.0 rpg. Bobcats - Wallace, 16.5 ppg; Okafor, 11.5 rpg; Knight, 7.5 apg.
2004-05 SEASON SERIES: Spurs, 2-0.
LAST MEETING: March 18; Spurs, 93-76. At San Antonio, Parker scored 24 points and the Spurs held the Bobcats scoreless over the final 6:05 of the third quarter to sweep the first season series between the teams.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Spurs - 1-1 on the road; Bobcats - 1-1 at home.