Kevin Martin helps Houston Rockets to 119–114 O.T. victory over the San Antonio Spurs
Led by Kevin Martin’s nine points in overtime, the Houston Rockets handed the San Antonio Spurs their sixth-straight loss with a 119–114 victory at the Toyota Centre in Houston on Friday. Kevin Martin was 8-of-20 on the night, but stepped-up when the Rockets
needed him most, sinking all six crucial free-throws to lead his team past the Spurs.
The Rockets had seven players in double-figures led by Martin with a game-high 33 points; Luis Scola added 21 points and 14 rebounds, while Chuck Hayes chipped in with 10 points and 12 boards.
The Rockets moved the basketball well and set their team-mates up for easy shots throughout the game. They racked up 24 assists on the night, in comparison to just 18 for the Spurs. Despite the five-game losing streak with which they entered the game, the
Spurs were no pushovers as they fought the Rockets until the end.
In what was a close game in front of a packed crowd at the Toyota Centre, the Rockets took the early lead, as they finished the first quarter with a 9-2 run to take a 31–27 lead at the end of the first 12 minutes.
San Antonio bounced back in the second period to take a 48–46 lead courtesy Tim Duncan’s jumper in the fifth minute. Houston countered to outscore the Spurs 18–8 for the rest of the period to go into the second half with a 64–56 advantage.
Tim Duncan’s free-throw made it 108–106 in San Antonio's favour with 18.4 seconds left in the fourth. The Rockets’ Kyle Lowry then hit a jumper with 3.9 seconds remaining to tie the game as the final quarter came to a close.
San Antonio went on to outscore Houston 52–44 in the second half to tie the game and force an overtime period.
After Manu Ginobili hit a couple of free-throws early on in overtime, Chuck Hayes buried a jumper to even things out at 110–110. Kevin Martin then went on to score nine-straight points, including six free-throws to seal the win for the Rockets.
Tony Parker led the Spurs with 31 points; Ginobili had 23, while Tim Duncan finished with 23 points and 13 rebounds.
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