Manu And Duncan Lead Spurs Over Hornets 99-80 Game Seven Monday

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA PLAYOFFS

So now the question is did the San Antonio Spurs just extend their series against the New Orleans Hornets by one more game Thursday night? Or was this the breakthrough game that the defending NBA Champions have been waiting for all series? We will all find out the answer to those question on Monday as the Spurs have forced a game seven by defeating the Hornets Thursday 99-80. The win deadlocks the series at 3-3 and will force a game seven in the Big Easy on Monday. Each game so far in this series has been won by the home team.

The contrast in the way these two teams perform depending on the venue, is simply incredible. The Hornets when they play at home look like they are on their way to a NBA Title. The Spurs at San Antonio look as dominant as they did last year against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals. San Antonio was the far superior team for three quarters Thursday night, and the one quarter that the Hornets were better, was not enough to make a difference in the outcome of the contest.

The Spurs showed in the first quarter that they had every intention of playing a game seven, as they jumped out to a 36-24 lead at the end of the?period.? New Orleans was able to cut the lead in the second quarter, but San Antonio still walked into the locker room at the half up 58-51. The Spurs just shut down the Hornets in the second half, they took a 78-63 lead into the fourth quarter. New Orleans was never close enough in the final period to cause San Antonio to break a sweat.

Manu Ginobili led all scorers with 25 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, Tim Duncan recorded a double-double as he scored 20 points, grabbed 15 boards, 6 assists, 2 blocks. Tony Parker scored? 15 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, Ime Udoka came off the bench and scored 13 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block.

Chris Paul led the way for the Hornets as he scored 21 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 steals. Tyson Chandler scored 14 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 assist, 1 steal, Peja Stojakovic scored 13 points, 6 rebounds. David West scored 10 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 assist, 1 steal. It’s one game for all the marbles Monday night in the Big Easy.

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