Ginobili leads sizzling Spurs past Hornets

Manu Ginobili had 27 points.

(Saturday, February 23rd) Final Score: San Antonio 98, New Orleans 89

San Antonio, TX  - Manu Ginobili had 30 points and a career- best 12 assists to pace San Antonio to a 98-89 win over the New Orleans Hornets.

Tim Duncan scored 25 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for the Spurs, winners of five in a row and nine of 10. Tony Parker added 10 points for San Antonio, which has beaten the Hornets in 13 of the last 15 meetings.

Ginobili, who shot 10-of-18 from the floor, including 4-of-8 from three-point range, also had six rebounds.

“We handled the Hornets pressure pretty good tonight,” Ginobili said. “I think we struggled in the third quarter however we got things together in the end. Our defense was great all night and free throws were a big key.”

Chris Paul had 27 points for the Hornets, who have lost two straight following a five-game win streak. David West added 16 points and Peja Stojakovic scored 11 in the loss, as the Hornets fell into a tie with the Spurs atop the Southwest Division.

“We’ve got to bounce back because these were two hard fought games,” New Orleans’ Tyson Chandler said of the loss Saturday and Friday at home by 20 to Houston. “Tonight we fought back, we had a chance to win as we were in a position we wanted to be, but some shots didn’t fall in and they began to get a little lead.”

The Hornets picked up a 102-78 win at San Antonio on January 26, but the Spurs gained control in this game by opening a 10-point lead with just over two minutes left on the strength of consecutive three-pointers from Bruce Bowen and Ginobili.

“After we got blitzed the last game against the Hornets we knew tonight was going to be a big and physical game for us,” Duncan said. “Tonight we had to keep our eyes on the boards. The Hornets are great on the boards and they get extra possessions from them. Early in the night the Hornets had three rebounds in a row and ended up with a three point shot so we knew early in the game that rebounding was something we needed to contain.”

A 19-2 run that bridged the third and fourth quarters allowed the Hornets to tie the game at 78 after Jannero Pargo made a jumper, then a three and Mike James’ layup squared the contest with 7:05 remaining.

Pargo had a chance to give the Hornets the lead, but missed a three-pointer, and Duncan’s two free throws with 6:19 left put the Spurs ahead for good.

Paul’s jumper had New Orleans within 84-82 with 4:35 left, but with a chance to go ahead, Stojakovic missed a three-pointer. Duncan’s layup then sparked a game-sealing 12-2 flurry, highlighted by the long distance shots from Bowen and Ginobili. Two free throws from Ginobili had the margin at 96-84 with 1:43 to play.

San Antonio scored the game’s first six points and the Spurs led 26-21 going into the second quarter. Duncan’s layup moved the margin to 40-28 with 4:30 left in the half, and it was 50-35 at the break courtesy of Damon Stoudamire’s three in the waning seconds for San Antonio.

A jam by Robert Horry, followed by Ginobili’s layup, extended the spread to 76-59 with 1:26 left in the third, before the Hornets used their big run to tie the game.

Game Notes

The Spurs made all 17 of their foul shots…San Antonio leads the season series, 2-1, with the final meeting coming March 12 at New Orleans…Chandler had 10 rebounds for the Hornets. James and Bonzi Wells, who were both acquired in a trade Thursday from Houston, played extended minutes. James played almost 16 minutes and scored five points and Wells played more than 19 minutes and scored two points.

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