Slam Dunk Central

???????????????????????????????

Typically, if you shoot 34% from the field, you lose, right?? In the vast majority of cases, yes.? But if the team in question is the San Antonio Spurs, then you have that “exception to the rule”; while they shot poorly, their opponent, the New Jersey Nets, didn’t shoot much better - a sickly 37.3%.? So what gives?? What gives is that Tim Duncan dominated the paint and the Nets’ frontcourt, leading San Antonio to a convincing 81-70 win over New Jersey Tuesday night at AT&T Center.

The Spurs went ahead late in the second quarter thanks to an 18-1 run whicxh crossed over into the third quarter; San Antonio’s Tim Duncan made an ESPN-worthy highlight dunk over New Jersey’s Richard Jefferson, capping that run top put San Antonio up on top 53-38 with 7:16 to go in the period.? The Nets didn’t score?a point for 6:42; San Antonio outscored New Jersey 27-13 in what would be a decisive second quarter.?

The Nets managed to creep to within 8 points in the third period, but the Spurs’ Manu Ginobili stole the ball from Jefferson and made a dunk; Ginobili followed up on the Spurs’ next possession with a 3 to put San Antonio up by 12, 63-51, going into the fourth quarter.? New Jersey couldn’t gret to within single digits in the final period, icing the game for San Antonio.? San Antonio’s leading scorer was Duncan with 29 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists and a pair of blocked shots, while Ginobili scored 12 with 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals and a blocked shot.

New Jersey was led by Vince Carter with 19 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists, while Marcus Williams scored 16 from off the bench along with 2 rebounds, an assist and a steal.? San Antonio (42-17) take their 10-game win streak to Indianapolis to take on the Indiana Pacers Wednesday, while New Jersey (26-34) flies to Memphis to challenge the Grizzlies on Thursday.