Spurs 103, Hornets 77

Blondie · by **Blondie** on Thu Dec 14, 2006 6:43 am

BKN Spurs Hornets Preview
By The Associated Press

It's been just three days since the New Orleans Hornets played a home game, but it's been much longer since they played a game in New Orleans.

The Hornets take on the league's best road team Thursday when they face the San Antonio Spurs at the New Orleans Arena, their first time playing at the venue in more than a month.

After being displaced by Hurricane Katrina last season, the Hornets are playing 35 home games in Oklahoma City in 2006-07, and the other six in New Orleans. They will also face the Dallas Mavericks at New Orleans on Saturday.

The Hornets (10-10) hope to return to their true home full-time next season, despite receiving excellent support from Oklahoma City and the fans there.

``The people (in Oklahoma City) have been not just gracious, they've been wonderful,'' owner George Shinn said. ``But it's just a situation that got down to what is the right thing to do, and the right thing is to go back.

``I know there are questions (and) I'm tired of trying to respond or to try to say this or that. ... Our plan is to go back and to give every effort we can make to make this thing work. That's just the bottom line.''

Thursday will be the team's first game back in New Orleans since the Nov. 5 home opener, a 96-90 win over the Houston Rockets. The Hornets hope the return can reinvigorate them after their surprising start to the season has fizzled.

New Orleans opened the season 8-3, but had lost seven of eight before defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 95-89 at Oklahoma City on Tuesday. The Hornets shot a season-high 54.8 percent from the field, led by Chris Paul's 30 points on 11-of-16 shooting.

``I have been saying it all along that he is one of the best point guards in this league,'' coach Byron Scott said of Paul. ``He is the main reason that we are .500 right now with all of the guys that we have been missing. ... I am putting a lot of pressure on him and a lot of own-ness on him because of how great he is.''

Only eight Hornets players took the court Tuesday, as David West (right forearm strain), Peja Stojakovic (back spasms) and Bobby Jackson (cracked rib) all sat out due to injuries.

The Spurs (17-6) own the league's best road record at 9-3, and have also won five of their last six road meetings with the Hornets.

San Antonio has also won six of its last seven overall after defeating Minnesota 95-82 at home Wednesday. The Spurs trailed 56-48 entering the locker room, but picked up their defensive intensity in the second half, when they limited the Timberwolves to 26 points.

``I just asked the guys if it wasn't that much of a problem or an inconvenience if they picked up the pressure and played a little more aggressively,'' coach Gregg Popovich said. ''

Tim Duncan led the Spurs with 24 points while Tony Parker had 23.

Duncan is averaging 21.6 points and 12.5 rebounds in 20 career games versus the Hornets.

SpursFanIsrael · by **SpursFanIsrael** on Thu Dec 14, 2006 6:58 am

Another back to back.It is going to be tough tonight.Lets hope we can win this.

ryno · by **ryno** on Thu Dec 14, 2006 12:46 pm

Wow the Hornets are really banged up I would be surprised if Peja, Jackson, or West play in this one. As long as the Spurs don't take them too lightly and Tony can maintain the D he put on James last night the Spurs should win another.

Bran Faurschou · by **Bran Faurschou** on Thu Dec 14, 2006 9:01 pm

sorry but GO HORNETS.

VWolf · by **VWolf** on Thu Dec 14, 2006 9:18 pm

Hornets are an awful, awful team right now. They are playing hyped up and the refs are buying into the Katrina hype. This is the Spurs game to lose.

How to lose it: Keep letting Desmond Mason run free inside, keep playing Finley.

How to win it: Put a body on Mason, play like the Spurs.

missmyzte · by **missmyzte** on Thu Dec 14, 2006 11:47 pm

Spurs 103,Hornets 77
By BRETT MARTEL, AP Sports Writer
Posted Dec 15 2006 12:30AM
http://www.nba.com/games/20061214/SASNOK/recap.html

NEW ORLEANS(AP) Manu Ginobili scored 24 points and Tony Parker added 19, leading the San Antonio Spurs to a 103-77 victory over the undermanned New Orleans Hornets on Thursday night.

Tim Duncan had 11 points and nine rebounds for the Spurs, who never trailed.

The Hornets (10-11) dressed only 10 players and were no match for the Southwest Division leading Spurs (18-6), who led by 75-55 in third quarter after Brent Barry's driving floater that went in off the glass as he was fouled.

The New Orleans crowd had little to cheer about in the second half, other than when the scoreboard video screen showed Saints running back Deuce McAllister in the audience. That drew howls of ``Deuce'' and a standing ovation.

The Spurs won their third game in a row and seventh out of eight.

Rasual Butler scored 17 points for New Orleans, while Desmond Mason added 16 points and nine rebounds. Chris Paul had 12 assists, but was held to only six points - 12.8 below his average - and spent the fourth quarter on the bench.

San Antonio started hitting from long range early and led 13-2 after Ginobili, who had 16 points in the first half, hit a pair of 3-pointers and a layup.

New Orleans got as close as 25-20 on Linton Johnson's turnaround jumper from 13 feet, but San Antonio went ahead 38-28 on Michael Finley's 3-pointer and kept a double-digit lead through most of the second quarter. The Spurs led 53-42 at halftime.

Notes: The game was the second in New Orleans this season. Unlike the first, it was not a sellout. Attendance was announced at 15,140, about 3,000 below capacity. ... The Hornets host Dallas in New Orleans on Saturday, the third of six scheduled games in the city this season. ... Hornets starting center Tyson Chandler missed the game with flu-like symptoms. New Orleans starters David West (elbow) and Peja Stojakovic (back spams) have been out for several weeks and the Hornets' top reserve, Bobby Jackson (cracked rib) has been out for six games. ... San Antonio has won eight of its last nine meetings with the Hornets.

SAmikep · by **SAmikep** on Fri Dec 15, 2006 8:46 am

I was just glad to see the Spurs on TV! :jam2:

kmgospurs · by **kmgospurs** on Fri Dec 15, 2006 9:49 am

Good to see Manu start to have a good season again and hopefully he stays healthy this year.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=261214003
Hornets can't stop Ginobili, fall to Spurs

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Manu Ginobili might want to keep a pad strapped to his lower back whether he's hurting or not.

Ginobili continued his strong return from a lower back contusion in late November that caused him to miss four games, scoring 24 points to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 103-77 victory over the undermanned New Orleans Hornets on Thursday night.

"He's playing better than he did last season," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "He's playing like he did the year before. He feels healthy, he's got his bounce back -- shooting the ball, driving, making decisions. So he's doing a real good job."
Ginobili scored eight points in the first few minutes of the game on a pair of 3-pointers and a driving layup as the Spurs ran out to a 13-2 lead and never trailed.

He had 24 points before he had played 24 minutes and did not appear the slightest bit tentative about taking contact.

"Now I'm feeling good. Shots are falling that always helps," Ginobili said. "I'm wearing the pad because I'm a little worried. I don't want to get hit there again. It's more prevention than I really need it, but I feel more comfortable. Sometimes when I draw a charge I feel more comfortable when I land, so I'm going to wear it for a while."

Tony Parker added 19 points and used pressure in the back court to slow down Hornets guard Chris Paul, who finished with six points, 12.8 below his average coming in. Tim Duncan had 11 points and nine rebounds for the Spurs.

The Hornets (10-11) dressed only 10 players and were no match for the Southwest Division leading Spurs (18-6), who led 75-55 in the third quarter after Brent Barry's driving floater went in off the glass as he was fouled.

The New Orleans crowd had little to cheer about in the second half, other than when the scoreboard video screen showed Saints running back Deuce McAllister in the audience. That drew howls of "Deuce" and a standing ovation.

The Spurs won their third game in a row and seventh out of eight. They outshot the Hornets 50 percent to 40.5 percent, dominating in the paint with 52 points to 38 for New Orleans.

Rasual Butler scored 17 points for the Hornets, while Desmond Mason added 16 points and nine rebounds. Paul had 12 assists and spent the fourth quarter on the bench.

New Orleans coach Byron Scott said his team gave a good effort, but had little chance of winning going in.

"The San Antonio Spurs are one of the best teams in this league, if not the best," Scott said. "You've got to play nearly perfect basketball to beat them. They're not going to beat themselves.

"In the long run, this is going to help us. It will probably toughen us up a little bit more. ... It's good that this is happening early."

After San Antonio jumped out to a quick 11-point lead, New Orleans got as close as 25-20 on Linton Johnson's turnaround jumper from 13 feet.

Soon after, San Antonio went ahead 38-28 on Michael Finley's 3-pointer and kept a double-digit lead through most of the second quarter. The Spurs led 53-42 at halftime.

Game notes
The game was the second in New Orleans this season. Unlike the first, it was not a sellout. Attendance was announced at 15,140, about 3,000 below capacity. ... The Hornets host Dallas in New Orleans on Saturday, the third of six scheduled games in the city this season. ... Hornets starting center Tyson Chandler missed the game with flu-like symptoms. New Orleans starters David West (elbow) and Peja Stojakovic (back spasms) have been out for several weeks and the Hornets' top reserve, Bobby Jackson (cracked rib) has been out for six games. ... San Antonio has won eight of its last nine meetings with the Hornets.

SAmikep · by **SAmikep** on Fri Dec 15, 2006 9:53 am

I was a little worried about last night's game. It was very emotional for the people in New Orleans and sometimes emotion can carry a team to an upset. Glad to see the Spurs took care of business.

I also liked Charles Barkley's report on the 9th Ward.

Thomas · by **Thomas** on Fri Dec 15, 2006 11:45 am

The Spurs played great against the Hornets last night. They passed the ball very well, and showed team effort. Manu came to play and Tony did his thing, Tim did what he had to and showed up in New Orleans. The NBA should have not have had the Spurs play the Hornets last night, becuase they were trying to promote the city of New Orleans to come back, with good sprits not bad ones. Coach Pop made sure Tony was too continue to play hard and not let the Spurs go soft on the Hornets. Thats what make Gregg Popovich one of the greatest coaches in the NBA. Everyone played through the last seconds of the fourth quarter as well, and by the way Why were the Hornets fans booing Tony Parker for? :shrug:

ryno · by **ryno** on Fri Dec 15, 2006 11:47 am

SAmikep wrote:I was a little worried about last night's game. It was very emotional for the people in New Orleans and sometimes emotion can carry a team to an upset. Glad to see the Spurs took care of business.

I also liked Charles Barkley's report on the 9th Ward.

I was a little worried too, that is until CP3 did his little speach before the game. Then I noticed the crowd didn't seem very pumped up at all. It will be interesting to see what kind of attendance they can get next year playing 41 games in NO.

VWolf · by **VWolf** on Fri Dec 15, 2006 12:52 pm

Outside of Chris Paul and Desmond Mason (who would be a good bench player on another team) that looked like a D-League team the Spurs were up against last night. They better get some players healthy or they are about to go on a LONG losing streak.

Taco · by **Taco** on Fri Dec 15, 2006 12:59 pm

Past few games the Spurs have given a few teams some good old fasion Ass Whoppin's

Spurs 103, Hornets 77

Spurs 103, Hornets 77

Spurs Sting Hornets

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