GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: HOUSTON (6-3) at SAN ANTONIO (7-2)

NBA: HOUSTON at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 80
SAN ANTONIO 82 2:54 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 84
SAN ANTONIO 88 0:40 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 84
SAN ANTONIO 90 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
HOUSTON 24 22 18 20 84
SAN ANTONIO 25 24 20 21 90 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: HOU - LUIS SCOLA 20, SHANE BATTIER 15, YAO
MING 14
SAS - TIM DUNCAN 25, MANU GINOBILI 19, MICHAEL
FINLEY 17</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NBA
HOUSTON 84
SAN ANTONIO 90 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (84) AT SAN ANTONIO (90)

HOUSTON

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

R ALSTON G 43:14 4-10 0-1 0 4 4 7 2 2 2 9
B WELLS G 23:06 1-9 2-2 0 2 2 0 1 0 2 4
C HAYES F 13:16 2-2 0-0 1 0 1 1 4 1 1 4
S BATTIER F 39:46 6-11 2-3 2 3 5 2 2 2 1 16
Y MING C 39:13 7-16 0-0 2 7 9 2 3 0 7 14
L SCOLA 29:59 10-11 0-0 1 3 4 0 3 0 1 20
L HEAD 27:14 3-6 0-0 0 4 4 3 0 2 2 7
M JAMES 24:12 5-10 0-0 1 1 2 2 0 2 0 10

TOTALS 240:00 38-75 4-6 7 24 31 17 15 9 16 84
(.507) (.667) TEAM REBS: 4 TOTAL TO: 16 (0 PTS)

SAN ANTONIO

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

T PARKER G 32:53 6-13 2-4 0 3 3 3 0 0 2 14
M FINLEY G 30:45 7-8 0-0 1 3 4 5 2 1 0 17
T DUNCAN F 38:48 11-22 3-6 4 9 13 2 3 2 4 25
B BOWEN F 31:34 2-3 0-0 0 1 1 2 2 1 1 6
F OBERTO C 17:51 0-2 0-0 2 2 4 0 4 1 0 0
E GINOBILI 29:24 5-14 6-6 2 7 9 7 4 1 6 19
B BARRY 19:39 2-4 0-0 1 2 3 0 2 0 0 5
J VAUGHN 15:07 0-2 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
F ELSON 14:51 2-3 0-0 1 2 3 1 0 0 1 4
M BONNER 9:00 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 0
D WASHINGTON JR 0:08 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTALS 240:00 35-72 11-16 11 29 40 20 18 7 16 90
(.486) (.688) TEAM REBS: 6 TOTAL TO: 16 (0 PTS)

HOUSTON 24 22 18 20 - 84
SAN ANTONIO 25 24 20 21 - 90

BLOCKED SHOTS: HOUSTON - Y MING 3. SAN ANTONIO - T DUNCAN, E GINOBILI.

3-PT. FIELD GOALS: HOUSTON 4-16 (.250), R ALSTON 1-5, B WELLS 0-2,
S BATTIER 2-6, L HEAD 1-2, M JAMES 0-1. SAN ANTONIO 9-16 (.563), M FINLEY 3-
4, B BOWEN 2-3, E GINOBILI 3-6, B BARRY 1-3.
TECHNICAL FOULS: NONE.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: DAN CRAWFORD, JAMES CAPERS, JOHN GOBLE.
A - 18,797. T - 2:15.</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (84)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
R Alston 43:14 4-10 0-1 0-4 7 2 9
B Wells 23:06 1-9 2-2 0-2 0 1 4
C Hayes 13:16 2-2 0-0 1-1 1 4 4
S Battier 39:46 6-11 2-3 2-5 2 2 16
Y Ming 39:13 7-16 0-0 2-9 2 3 14
L Scola 29:59 10-11 0-0 1-4 0 3 20
L Head 27:14 3-6 0-0 0-4 3 0 7
M James 24:12 5-10 0-0 1-2 2 0 10

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 38-75 4-6 7-31 17 15 84
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.507, FT-.667. 3-Point Goals:
4-16, .250 (R Alston 1-5, B Wells 0-2, S
Battier 2-6, L Head 1-2, M James 0-1). Team
Rebounds: 4. Blocked Shots:3 (Y Ming 3).
Turnovers:16 (Y Ming 7, B Wells 2, R Alston
2, L Head 2, S Battier, C Hayes, L Scola).
Steals: 9 (R Alston 2, S Battier 2, M James
2, L Head 2, C Hayes).


SAN ANTONIO (90)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
T Parker 32:53 6-13 2-4 0-3 3 0 14
M Finley 30:45 7-8 0-0 1-4 5 2 17
T Duncan 38:48 11-22 3-6 4-13 2 3 25
B Bowen 31:34 2-3 0-0 0-1 2 2 6
F Oberto 17:51 0-2 0-0 2-4 0 4 0
E Ginobili 29:24 5-14 6-6 2-9 7 4 19
B Barry 19:39 2-4 0-0 1-3 0 2 5
J Vaughn 15:07 0-2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
F Elson 14:51 2-3 0-0 1-3 1 0 4
M Bonner 9:00 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 0
D Washington Jr 0:08 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 35-72 11-16 11-40 20 18 90
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.486, FT-.688. 3-Point Goals:
9-16, .563 (M Finley 3-4, B Bowen 2-3, E
Ginobili 3-6, B Barry 1-3). Team Rebounds: 6.
Blocked Shots:2 (T Duncan, E Ginobili).
Turnovers:16 (E Ginobili 6, T Duncan 4, T
Parker 2, M Bonner 2, B Bowen, F Elson).
Steals: 7 (T Duncan 2, B Bowen, M Bonner, E
Ginobili, M Finley, F Oberto).

-------------------------------------------
HOUSTON 24 22 18 20 - 84
SAN ANTONIO 25 24 20 21 - 90
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: None.
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 18,797. T: 2:15.
Officials: Dan Crawford, James Capers, John
Goble.</div>

 

By Brian Guerra
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


<div class="pre">SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) The San Antonio Spurs beat one of the</div>Texas rivals for the first time this season on Friday, posting a90-84 victory over the Houston Rockets.


Tim Duncan carried the Spurs with 25 points, including 14 in thefirst quarter, and 13 rebounds.


The Rockets were without their top scorer Tracy McGrady, whosprained his right elbow Wednesday night. Houston missed his26.8 points per game, but Luis Scola came off the bench to scorea career-high 20 points to help fill the void.


Prior to the game, the Spurs were 0-2 against Texas teams. Theirlosses to Houston and Dallas, however, were both away from theAT&T Center, where the Spurs are 6-0.


Once again, Manu Ginobili, who finished with 19 points and 9rebounds provided the much-needed spark when things got close.

Michael Finley was nearly perfect from the field, scoring 17points on 7-of-8 shooting.


For the Rockets, Shane Battier added 16 points and Mike James had10.


Houston held a 42-33 lead late in the first half, but Duncan'sfadeaway bankshot over Yao Ming with 1:52 left in the quartercapped a 9-0 run by the Spurs, who managed to take a 49-46 leadat the half.


The Rockets pulled to 61-60 with 2:44 left in the third, butGinobili took control, and the Spurs went on an 8-0 run.Ginobili grabbed three straight defensive rebounds, hit two3-pointers, and found an open Francisco Elson for a jumpshot,and the Spurs took a 69-60 lead.

 

NBA: HOUSTON at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (84) AT SAN ANTONIO (90)

HOUSTON

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

R ALSTON G 43:14 4-10 0-1 0 4 4 7 2 2 2 9
B WELLS G 23:06 1-9 2-2 0 2 2 0 1 0 2 4
C HAYES F 13:16 2-2 0-0 1 0 1 1 4 1 1 4
S BATTIER F 39:46 6-11 2-3 2 3 5 2 2 2 1 16
Y MING C 39:13 7-16 0-0 2 7 9 2 3 0 7 14
L SCOLA 29:59 10-11 0-0 1 3 4 0 3 0 1 20
L HEAD 27:14 3-6 0-0 0 4 4 3 0 2 2 7
M JAMES 24:12 5-10 0-0 1 1 2 2 0 2 0 10
D MUTOMBO DNP - COACH'S DECISION
S FRANCIS DNP - COACH'S DECISION
K SNYDER DNP - COACH'S DECISION
C LANDRY DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 38-75 4-6 7 24 31 17 15 9 16 84
(.507) (.667) TEAM REBS: 4 TOTAL TO: 16 (21 PTS)

SAN ANTONIO

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

T PARKER G 32:53 6-13 2-4 0 3 3 3 0 0 2 14
M FINLEY G 30:45 7-8 0-0 1 3 4 5 2 1 0 17
T DUNCAN F 38:48 11-22 3-6 4 9 13 2 3 2 4 25
B BOWEN F 31:34 2-3 0-0 0 1 1 2 2 1 1 6
F OBERTO C 17:51 0-2 0-0 2 2 4 0 4 1 0 0
E GINOBILI 29:24 5-14 6-6 2 7 9 7 4 1 6 19
B BARRY 19:39 2-4 0-0 1 2 3 0 2 0 0 5
J VAUGHN 15:07 0-2 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
F ELSON 14:51 2-3 0-0 1 2 3 1 0 0 1 4
M BONNER 9:00 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 0
D WASHINGTON JR 0:08 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
I UDOKA DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 35-72 11-16 11 29 40 20 18 7 16 90
(.486) (.688) TEAM REBS: 6 TOTAL TO: 16 (14 PTS)

HOUSTON 24 22 18 20 - 84
SAN ANTONIO 25 24 20 21 - 90

BLOCKED SHOTS: HOUSTON - Y MING 3. SAN ANTONIO - T DUNCAN, E GINOBILI.

3-PT. FIELD GOALS: HOUSTON 4-16 (.250), R ALSTON 1-5, B WELLS 0-2,
S BATTIER 2-6, L HEAD 1-2, M JAMES 0-1. SAN ANTONIO 9-16 (.563), M FINLEY 3-
4, B BOWEN 2-3, E GINOBILI 3-6, B BARRY 1-3.
TECHNICAL FOULS: NONE.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: DAN CRAWFORD, JAMES CAPERS, JOHN GOBLE.
A - 18,797. T - 2:14.</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (84)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
R Alston 43:14 4-10 0-1 0-4 7 2 9
B Wells 23:06 1-9 2-2 0-2 0 1 4
C Hayes 13:16 2-2 0-0 1-1 1 4 4
S Battier 39:46 6-11 2-3 2-5 2 2 16
Y Ming 39:13 7-16 0-0 2-9 2 3 14
L Scola 29:59 10-11 0-0 1-4 0 3 20
L Head 27:14 3-6 0-0 0-4 3 0 7
M James 24:12 5-10 0-0 1-2 2 0 10
D Mutombo DNP - COACH'S DECISION
S Francis DNP - COACH'S DECISION
K Snyder DNP - COACH'S DECISION
C Landry DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 38-75 4-6 7-31 17 15 84
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.507, FT-.667. 3-Point Goals:
4-16, .250 (R Alston 1-5, B Wells 0-2, S
Battier 2-6, L Head 1-2, M James 0-1). Team
Rebounds: 4. Blocked Shots:3 (Y Ming 3).
Turnovers:16 (Y Ming 7, B Wells 2, R Alston
2, L Head 2, S Battier, C Hayes, L Scola).
Steals: 9 (R Alston 2, S Battier 2, M James
2, L Head 2, C Hayes).


SAN ANTONIO (90)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
T Parker 32:53 6-13 2-4 0-3 3 0 14
M Finley 30:45 7-8 0-0 1-4 5 2 17
T Duncan 38:48 11-22 3-6 4-13 2 3 25
B Bowen 31:34 2-3 0-0 0-1 2 2 6
F Oberto 17:51 0-2 0-0 2-4 0 4 0
E Ginobili 29:24 5-14 6-6 2-9 7 4 19
B Barry 19:39 2-4 0-0 1-3 0 2 5
J Vaughn 15:07 0-2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
F Elson 14:51 2-3 0-0 1-3 1 0 4
M Bonner 9:00 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 0
D Washington Jr 0:08 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
I Udoka DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 35-72 11-16 11-40 20 18 90
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.486, FT-.688. 3-Point Goals:
9-16, .563 (M Finley 3-4, B Bowen 2-3, E
Ginobili 3-6, B Barry 1-3). Team Rebounds: 6.
Blocked Shots:2 (T Duncan, E Ginobili).
Turnovers:16 (E Ginobili 6, T Duncan 4, T
Parker 2, M Bonner 2, B Bowen, F Elson).
Steals: 7 (T Duncan 2, B Bowen, M Bonner, E
Ginobili, M Finley, F Oberto).

-------------------------------------------
HOUSTON 24 22 18 20 - 84
SAN ANTONIO 25 24 20 21 - 90
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: None.
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 18,797. T: 2:14.
Officials: Dan Crawford, James Capers, John
Goble.</div>

 

By Brian Guerra
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) - The San Antonio Spurs beat one of theirTexas rivals for the first time this season on Friday, posting a90-84 victory over the Houston Rockets.


Tim Duncan carried the Spurs with 13 rebounds and a season-high25 points, including 14 in the first quarter.


The Rockets were without their top scorer Tracy McGrady, whosprained his right elbow Wednesday night. Houston missed his26.8 points per game, but Luis Scola came off the bench to scorea career-high 20 points to help fill the void.


Scola didn't seem interested in his stats, though.

"The only thing that matters tonight is that we lost," he said."We had a chance to win and played really solid, but the Spurswon. They are the team to beat. They are the champions."

For the Spurs, the win against one of their division-rival was arelief.


"That was a win we had to have," Spurs coach Gregg Popovichsaid. "Obviously, Houston was at a disadvantage without Tracy,but those are the games you don't want to lose. The other team'sfired up, and if they get that win, it's kind of a double-winfor them. And, if you lose the game when you have the advantage,you feel doubly bad about it. We're really thrilled we wereable to get the win."


Prior to the game, the Spurs were 0-2 against Texas teams. Theirlosses to Houston and Dallas, however, were both away from theAT&T Center, where the Spurs are 6-0.


Once again, Manu Ginobili, who finished with 19 points and 9rebounds provided the much-needed spark when things got close.

The game was tied 80-80 with 3:48 left in the nip-and-tuckfourth quarter after a Scola jumper. Ginobili then assisted onthe next three Spurs' baskets, and added an exclamation pointwith a driving layup around Yao Ming.


It gave the Spurs a four-point lead with less than a minuteleft, and forced Houston to start fouling. The Rockets missedtheir final four shots, allowing San Antonio to stay tied withNew Orleans atop the Southwest Division.


"We gave ourselves a chance to win in the fourth quarter,"Rockets coach Rick Adelman said, "But just couldn't get over thehump."


Michael Finley was nearly perfect from the field, tying a seasonhigh with 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting. For the Rockets, ShaneBattier added a season-high 16 points and Yao had 14 points andnine rebounds.


The Rockets know they had a chance to sneak out of San Antoniowith a win, but they couldn't make the plays down the stretch.

"The Spurs are a great team. You don't win four championships byaccident," Battier said. "The Spurs know how to finish games,and that's what makes them so tough."


Houston held a 42-33 lead late in the first half, but Duncan'sfadeaway bankshot over Yao with 1:52 left in the quarter cappeda 9-0 run by the Spurs, who managed to take a 49-46 lead at thehalf.


The Rockets pulled to 61-60 with 2:44 left in the third, butGinobili took control, and the Spurs went on an 8-0 run.Ginobili grabbed three straight defensive rebounds, hit two3-pointers, and found an open Francisco Elson for a jumpshot,and the Spurs took a 69-60 lead.


Duncan helped seal the win late. With the Rockets down by four,Yao grabbed an offensive rebound and tried to go back up with aquick layup.


But Duncan was right behind him, and managed to block Yao'sshot.


"That's why he's the focal point of our team," Popovich said."He's the foundation here and there's times where he'll get asilent 20 and create so many other shots for the guy. That's thekind of versatility he has in this game and that's why he's anall-star. Being able to play on both sides of the ball, that'swhy he's a two-time MVP."