Kori Ellis
03-04-2007, 02:26 AM
Spurs fire way past Rockets
Web Posted: 03/04/2007 12:15 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA030407.01C.BKNspurs.rockets.gamer.3698111.html
HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets' super-sized bear mascot, as mascots typically do, trotted out to midcourt during Friday's fourth quarter, sounded his siren and prepared to start firing T-shirts into the Toyota Center crowd.
Until, that is, he noticed the players running around him.
With Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy staring blankly from the sideline and the Spurs' Gregg Popovich shaking his head in disbelief, the referees called a timeout and shooed off the embarrassed mascot. But give Clutch some credit: For the first time all evening, the Rockets had upstaged Tim Duncan.
The rest of the night belonged to the Spurs' forward. With Tony Parker sidelined and Manu Ginobili unable to find his shooting stroke, Duncan scored 26 points as the Spurs pounded Houston 97-74 to extend their winning streak to eight games.
The victory also allowed the Spurs to salvage a split of the teams' series while pushing their lead over the Rockets to five games. Only Steve Novak's 3-pointer in the closing seconds prevented the Spurs from holding their fourth opponent in six games to a season-low total.
"All of these games are important for us now," said Michael Finley, who scored 14 points off the bench. "We're trying to establish ourselves as one of the better teams in this league."
The Spurs took another step toward doing that, albeit against a weary opponent. While Parker was sidelined by a left hip flexor strain, the Rockets didn't have much sympathy.
Center Yao Ming, who has resumed practicing but has yet to be cleared to play, sat out his 32nd consecutive game since fracturing his right leg Dec. 23. Houston also was without noted Spurs killer, Bonzi Wells (sore right foot).
The rest of the Rockets needed time to rub the sleep from their eyes after the team didn't arrive home from Friday's victory in Denver until 3:30 a.m.
"It would have been a real shame," Popovich said, "if we hadn't been able to take advantage of the situation."
Tired, wounded or otherwise, Houston had given the Spurs plenty of trouble this season, beating them twice at the AT&T Center, once without Tracy McGrady, the other time without Yao.
Duncan made sure the Spurs had something to smile about after the teams' final regular-season meeting. He buried a 20-footer shot on the team's opening possession, then proceeded to show off the rest of his repertoire: a 14-foot bank shot, a running hook, a driving layup and a turnaround jumper.
Duncan made his first five shots before watching another off-the-glass attempt drop through the rim, then bounce out. He scored 12 of the Spurs' first 18 points and finished with 15 in the quarter.
"It feels good to hit your early shots," said Duncan, who finished 10 of 14 from the field. "It makes the rest of the game a lot easier."
With the 7-foot-6 Yao out, Duncan worked over the rest of Houston's big men. Dikembe Mutombo had to go to the bench with two quick fouls. Juwan Howard also picked up two in the first quarter, and backup forward Chuck Hayes was hit with three in his first 41/2 minutes on the floor.
"Again, it shows you the value of having a guy you can throw the ball inside to," Van Gundy said. "Collapses the defense, gets you to the free-throw line. He by himself had us in foul trouble in the first half."
The Spurs made 11 of 15 shots (73.3 percent) and forced 10 turnovers by the Rockets in the first quarter. Jacque Vaughn, who started in Parker's place, helped with the latter, diving headfirst to the floor early in the game to force a steal that he scooped up and turned into a layup.
Vaughn finished with eight points and six assists while Beno Udrih also was steady in relief, making both his 3-point attempts and scoring 12 points.
"Jacque really set the pace for us, getting a lot of loose balls and hustling a lot," said Ginobili, who missed 7 of 8 shots but contributed six assists.
McGrady scored 14 of his 21 points in the final 7 minutes, 40 seconds of the second quarter to pull Houston within 54-42 at halftime, but Duncan only took that as his cue to go back to work. He drove for a layup on the opening possession of the third quarter, made a 19-foot jumper, then another midrange bank shot.
A few minutes later, Duncan stumbled, fired a shot from his hip and watched it also bank in.
"He's definitely been looking to take his shot," Popovich said. "If he's open, he's going ahead and shooting in rhythm."
The only thing left for the Spurs to do was sidestep Clutch.
"Obviously," Brent Barry said, "the peripheral vision of the bear costume is a little lacking."
Web Posted: 03/04/2007 12:15 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA030407.01C.BKNspurs.rockets.gamer.3698111.html
HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets' super-sized bear mascot, as mascots typically do, trotted out to midcourt during Friday's fourth quarter, sounded his siren and prepared to start firing T-shirts into the Toyota Center crowd.
Until, that is, he noticed the players running around him.
With Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy staring blankly from the sideline and the Spurs' Gregg Popovich shaking his head in disbelief, the referees called a timeout and shooed off the embarrassed mascot. But give Clutch some credit: For the first time all evening, the Rockets had upstaged Tim Duncan.
The rest of the night belonged to the Spurs' forward. With Tony Parker sidelined and Manu Ginobili unable to find his shooting stroke, Duncan scored 26 points as the Spurs pounded Houston 97-74 to extend their winning streak to eight games.
The victory also allowed the Spurs to salvage a split of the teams' series while pushing their lead over the Rockets to five games. Only Steve Novak's 3-pointer in the closing seconds prevented the Spurs from holding their fourth opponent in six games to a season-low total.
"All of these games are important for us now," said Michael Finley, who scored 14 points off the bench. "We're trying to establish ourselves as one of the better teams in this league."
The Spurs took another step toward doing that, albeit against a weary opponent. While Parker was sidelined by a left hip flexor strain, the Rockets didn't have much sympathy.
Center Yao Ming, who has resumed practicing but has yet to be cleared to play, sat out his 32nd consecutive game since fracturing his right leg Dec. 23. Houston also was without noted Spurs killer, Bonzi Wells (sore right foot).
The rest of the Rockets needed time to rub the sleep from their eyes after the team didn't arrive home from Friday's victory in Denver until 3:30 a.m.
"It would have been a real shame," Popovich said, "if we hadn't been able to take advantage of the situation."
Tired, wounded or otherwise, Houston had given the Spurs plenty of trouble this season, beating them twice at the AT&T Center, once without Tracy McGrady, the other time without Yao.
Duncan made sure the Spurs had something to smile about after the teams' final regular-season meeting. He buried a 20-footer shot on the team's opening possession, then proceeded to show off the rest of his repertoire: a 14-foot bank shot, a running hook, a driving layup and a turnaround jumper.
Duncan made his first five shots before watching another off-the-glass attempt drop through the rim, then bounce out. He scored 12 of the Spurs' first 18 points and finished with 15 in the quarter.
"It feels good to hit your early shots," said Duncan, who finished 10 of 14 from the field. "It makes the rest of the game a lot easier."
With the 7-foot-6 Yao out, Duncan worked over the rest of Houston's big men. Dikembe Mutombo had to go to the bench with two quick fouls. Juwan Howard also picked up two in the first quarter, and backup forward Chuck Hayes was hit with three in his first 41/2 minutes on the floor.
"Again, it shows you the value of having a guy you can throw the ball inside to," Van Gundy said. "Collapses the defense, gets you to the free-throw line. He by himself had us in foul trouble in the first half."
The Spurs made 11 of 15 shots (73.3 percent) and forced 10 turnovers by the Rockets in the first quarter. Jacque Vaughn, who started in Parker's place, helped with the latter, diving headfirst to the floor early in the game to force a steal that he scooped up and turned into a layup.
Vaughn finished with eight points and six assists while Beno Udrih also was steady in relief, making both his 3-point attempts and scoring 12 points.
"Jacque really set the pace for us, getting a lot of loose balls and hustling a lot," said Ginobili, who missed 7 of 8 shots but contributed six assists.
McGrady scored 14 of his 21 points in the final 7 minutes, 40 seconds of the second quarter to pull Houston within 54-42 at halftime, but Duncan only took that as his cue to go back to work. He drove for a layup on the opening possession of the third quarter, made a 19-foot jumper, then another midrange bank shot.
A few minutes later, Duncan stumbled, fired a shot from his hip and watched it also bank in.
"He's definitely been looking to take his shot," Popovich said. "If he's open, he's going ahead and shooting in rhythm."
The only thing left for the Spurs to do was sidestep Clutch.
"Obviously," Brent Barry said, "the peripheral vision of the bear costume is a little lacking."