Swamigp’s Weblog

Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili each scored 31 points to lead San Antonio to a must win over the New Orleans Hornets, 110-99 in game 3 of their Western Conference playoffs series. The Spurs went on a 11-0 run early in the 4th quarter to jump ahead to a double digit lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Tim Duncan added 16 points, 13 rebounds and 4 blocks in the win, pretty good considering he was double teamed most of the night. The double teaming of Duncan shooters like Ginobili and Bruce Bowen open. Bowen hit 4 threes for all 12 of his points while Ginobili and bench player Michael Finley each chipped in three of their own.

Chris Paul dueled Parker for most of the game, and was dominant in his performance, scoring 35 points and dishing 9 assists. The Hornets lead by as much as 8 points in the first half until Bowen and Ginolbili hit back to back jumpers at the end of the second period to take a one-point lead 43-42, heading to the break. The game was a seesaw battle in the 3rd quarter, it seemed every time the Spurs would hit a big shot, New Orleans would do the same. San Antonio would finish the quarter strong on a 8-2 run to grab a 5 point lead, 83-78 going into the pivotal 4th period.

The Hornets Julian Wright and Chris Paul scored the quarters first 4 points to dwindle San Antonio’s lead to one. Ginobili scored 7 straight points on the Spurs next two possessions, in between buckets by Paul and Bonzi Wells, to increase the lead to six, 90-84. David West of the Hornets scored 4 straight points to cut the lead to two before San Antonio went on the games’ decisive run. The Spurs scored 11 straight points over the next 4 minutes of play to take a 13 point, 101-88 lead. New Orleans could get no closer than 10 points as the Spurs won a must win game on their home floor. If it’s any consolation to Hornets fans, like myself, the same thing happened in the last series against Dallas, as they won games 4 and 5 to take the series.

David West finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds but the Hornets didn’t get the same production from their role players that they had received in the previous two games in the series. Peja Stojakovic, after two 20+ point performances, scored only 8 in this contest on 2-7 shooting. Though as a team they did shoot 49% from the floor, (mainly because Paul shot 15-25 and West shot 10-19) their bench that worked to their advantage in their first two games was mediocre in game 3, shot a combined 8-24 for 18 points.

Tony Parker added 11 assists and Ginobili chipped in 6 and 4 rebounds in an all-around effort by the Spurs. The spurs shot 48% from the floor and outscored the Hornets by 27 on three point baskets to eventually take game 3.