San Antonio (16-3) at Atlanta (2-16) Game Blog

ESPN.com
Dec 10, 2005
Link: ESPN
{If this story has been posted elsewhere, please disregard.}

San Antonio (16-3) at Atlanta (2-16) 7:00 pm EST
ATLANTA (Ticker) -- The Atlanta Hawks certainly are picking a bad time to run into the San Antonio Spurs.

The Spurs go for their seventh straight victory Saturday, while attempting to continue their recent domination of the league-worst Hawks.

San Antonio ran its season-best winning streak to six with Friday's 101-89 triumph vs. Boston. The Spurs, who never trailed, received 20 points and 11 rebounds from Tim Duncan and 14 points from fellow All-Star Manu Ginobili.

The Spurs, who have won 17 straight games against the Celtics, also are on an impressive run against the Hawks. San Antonio has won 12 of its last 14 games vs. Atlanta, including a pair of victories last season by a combined 31 points.

The Hawks are coming off their seventh straight loss, a 95-83 setback to Utah on Wednesday despite 19 points from Joe Johnson and 15 from rookie Salim Stoudamire.

Zaza Pachulia added 10 points and seven rebounds for Atlanta, which made just 20-of-31 free throws and committed 21 turnovers.

If Wednesday is any indication, the Hawks could be in for a long night against Duncan, as they were outscored, 52-16, in the paint against the Jazz.

CBS Sports Line
Dec 10, 2005
Link: SportsLine.com

GAME: San Antonio Spurs (16-3) at Atlanta Hawks (2-16).
TIME: Saturday, 7 p.m. EST.

The San Antonio Spurs are enjoying their longest winning streak of the season. If previous history is any indicator, they shouldn't have much trouble extending it.

The defending NBA champions shoot for their seventh straight victory when they visit the hapless Atlanta Hawks, a team they've beaten 12 of the last 14 times.

San Antonio beat Boston 101-89 on Friday, marking the 17th consecutive time they've beaten the Celtics. The Spurs, who own the best record in the Western Conference, have not lost since falling 106-99 to the Chicago Bulls on Nov. 25.

Tim Duncan, who had 20 points and 10 rebounds, wasn't quite satisfied with his team's most recent performance. San Antonio led by as many as 16 in the third quarter, but gave up several double-digit leads.

"We played well for the majority of the time," said Duncan, who was averaging 21.2 points per game coming in, ranking eighth in the conference. "We had a little bit of ups and downs - a little more than we wanted to."

The Spurs were allowing just 89.7 points per game coming in, ranking fourth in the league. They had a season-high 11 blocked shots Friday - six by Rasho Nesterovic and the other five by Duncan.

The Spurs also improved to 15-0 when leading after three quarters.

"The blocked shots are the consequence of our defensive system," said Manu Ginobili, who scored 14 points. "We were trying to make some of (the Celtics) penetrate and we always want the bigs to defend them."

The league-worst Hawks lost their seventh straight Wednesday, falling 95-83 to the Utah Jazz. Joe Johnson scored 19 points and Salim Stoudamire added 15 for Atlanta, which committed 21 turnovers.

The Hawks are off to the worst start in team history. They opened 3-15 last season. Their only wins this season came in consecutive games against Boston and Indiana, respectively, from Nov. 23-25.

Atlanta ranked second to last in the Eastern Conference with just 90.4 points per game and third-to-last with 99.6 allowed heading into Friday's games.
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GAME ODDS
Away Line Home Line
San Antonio -10.5 Atlanta 10.5
San Antonio are favorites.

Who does Bowen defend, to start out tonight? Joe Johnson or Al Harrington?

It may be Johnson.

The Phillips Arena in Atlanta has a very sparse crowd tonight. Wow.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Solid D

The Phillips Arena in Atlanta has a very sparse crowd tonight. Wow.

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Everynite, cept maybe when Lebron or Shaq comes to town.

That is sad if Atlanta is not sold out tonight. They have a chance to witness one of the greatest basketball teams ever asembled. Vegas would say you have to be about 15 to win a dollar if you want the Spurs. And we do not need to trade anyone on this team more at least 2 years. What is wrong with you? Can you not see how good this team can if if it stays healthy and survives a scary christmas? :rolleyes

Where is the play by play people at? beno is in the 1st quarter.

Finley is getting old. The young dog would have slammed that ball instead of passing out to Bruce.

I'll try but I'm slower than a snail. I can do this until the half.

6:31 ATL - Full timeout (Timeout #3)
6:41 SA - B. Bowen makes a 23-foot three-pointer from the left corner. Assist: M. Finley
6:48 SA - T. Duncan steals the ball from J. Smith
7:01 SA - Layup by T. Parker
7:22 ATL - Layup by J. Smith. Assist: J. Johnson
7:41 SA - B. Barry makes a 19-foot jumper along the right baseline. Assist: T. Duncan
7:58 ATL - J. Johnson makes a 16-foot jumper from the left wing
8:07 SA - B. Barry enters game for N. Mohammed
8:07 SA - T. Parker enters game for B. Udrih
8:07 SA - T. Duncan enters game for R. Horry

ok, or at least get the 3 pointer s, great passes and dunks but this could be garbage time by half.

5:01 ATL - R. Ivey steals the ball from M. Finley
5:20 ATL - J. Johnson makes a 19-foot jumper from the left wing. Assist: A. Harrington
5:37 SA - Layup by T. Duncan. Assist: M. Finley
5:54 ATL - J. Johnson makes a 19-foot jumper from the top of the key
6:16 SA - M. Finley makes a 12-foot jumper along the right baseline
6:26 ATL - Foul on J. Johnson
6:26 ATL - Offensive foul on J. Johnson
6:31 ATL - Z. Pachulia enters game for J. Childress
6:31 ATL - R. Ivey enters game for S. Stoudamire

4:56 ATL - J. Johnson drives to the hoop for a layup
5:01 ATL - R. Ivey steals the ball from M. Finley
5:20 ATL - J. Johnson makes a 19-foot jumper from the left wing. Assist: A. Harrington
5:37 SA - Layup by T. Duncan. Assist: M. Finley
5:54 ATL - J. Johnson makes a 19-foot jumper from the top of the key
6:16 SA - M. Finley makes a 12-foot jumper along the right baseline
6:26 ATL - Foul on J. Johnson
6:26 ATL - Offensive foul on J. Johnson
6:31 ATL - Z. Pachulia enters game for J. Childress
6:31 ATL - R. Ivey enters game for S. Stoudamire


Spurs lead 41-31

3:57 SA - T. Parker drives to the hoop for a layup. Assist: M. Finley
4:20 ATL - Z. Pachulia makes a 16-foot jumper along the left baseline. Assist: J. Johnson
4:41 SA - B. Barry makes a 24-foot three-pointer from the top of the arc. Assist: T. Duncan
4:56 ATL - J. Johnson drives to the hoop for a layup

5 assists for Finley already.

3:04 SA - Full timeout (Timeout #2)
3:12 ATL - A. Harrington hits a free throw
3:12 SA - Shooting foul on T. Duncan
3:12 ATL - A. Harrington drives to the hoop for a layup
3:15 SA - Jumpball violation on B. Bowen
3:18 ATL - Z. Pachulia defensive rebound
3:20 SA - B. Barry misses a 23-foot three-pointer from the right corner
3:35 ATL - J. Childress enters game for J. Smith
3:35 ATL - Personal foul on J. Smith
3:38 SA - B. Bowen steals the ball from J. Smith
3:46 SA - R. Nesterovic enters game for M. Finley
3:46 SA - Personal foul on T. Parker

3:12 SA - Shooting foul on T. Duncan
3:12 ATL - A. Harrington drives to the hoop for a layup
3:15 SA - Jumpball violation on B. Bowen
3:18 ATL - Z. Pachulia defensive rebound
3:20 SA - B. Barry misses a 23-foot three-pointer from the right corner
3:35 ATL - J. Childress enters game for J. Smith
3:35 ATL - Personal foul on J. Smith
3:38 SA - B. Bowen steals the ball from J. Smith
3:46 SA - R. Nesterovic enters game for M. Finley
3:46 SA - Personal foul on T. Parker

Spurs lead 46-35

Al makes 1st free throw 46-36 time out spurs.

Barry in for manu and the rest of the starters. manu probly get minutes with the bench in 2nd half

1:39 SA - 20 sec timeout
1:54 SA - T. Parker defensive rebound
1:55 ATL - J. Childress misses a layup
2:08 ATL - J. Childress defensive rebound
2:10 SA - M. Ginobili misses an 18-foot jumper along the left baseline
2:34 ATL - A. Harrington makes a 19-foot jumper from the top of the key
2:47 ATL - Z. Pachulia defensive rebound
2:49 SA - T. Duncan misses a 13-foot jumper along the left baseline
3:04 SA - M. Ginobili enters game for R. Nesterovic
3:04 SA - Full timeout (Timeout #2)

Spurs lead 46-38

:00.0 ATL - Z. Pachulia defensive rebound
:01.0 SA - T. Duncan offensive rebound
:00.4 SA - T. Duncan misses a tip in
:00.0 SA - T. Parker misses a layup
:23.6 ATL - J. Johnson makes shot
:32.7 ATL - J. Childress defensive rebound
:33.9 SA - T. Parker misses a 17-foot jumper from the right wing
:41.9 ATL - Personal foul on Z. Pachulia
:55.9 SA - T. Parker steals the ball from A. Harrington
:58.9 ATL - A. Harrington defensive rebound

:00.0 ATL - Z. Pachulia defensive rebound
:00.0 SA - T. Duncan offensive rebound
:00.0 SA - T. Duncan misses a tip in
:00.0 SA - T. Parker misses a layup
:23.6 ATL - J. Johnson makes shot
:32.7 ATL - J. Childress defensive rebound
:33.9 SA - T. Parker misses a 17-foot jumper from the right wing
:41.9 ATL - Personal foul on Z. Pachulia
:55.9 SA - T. Parker steals the ball from A. Harrington
:58.9 ATL - A. Harrington defensive rebound

Halftime Spurs lead 48-42.

Spurs up at half 48 42

Spurs playing down, boring.

Hawks shooting .475% at the half. :pctoss

Finley=5 assists :tu

Why would warriors be interested in this game? Scouting us already for the 1 n 8 matchup?

Boooorrrrrrrringgggggggggggggg.

Why do we play like the team we play sometimes? Seriously, it gets old.