NBA Special: Hornets snatch the Spurs eight-game winning streak
The New Orleans Hornets cruised by the San Antonio Spurs 96-72 on Saturday night in the New Orleans Arena in front of 18,023 basketball fans. The win gives the Hornets an
eight-game winning streak, while the Spurs' loss snapped an eight-game winning streak.
Four Hornet players scored in double figures. Forward David West played one of his best games in Hornets' uniform as he registered game-high 18 points and 10 rebounds in
less than 30 minutes. Guard Marcus Thornton also contributed 18 points and 5 rebounds in the season’s 29th victory of the Hornets. Trevor Ariza played well and ended with 15 points and 8 rebounds in the home win. Chris Paul continued his mid-range
shooting display, finishing with 11 points, six assists, and six rebounds in 30:36 - - playing the most of any starter.
While trying to downplay the impressive victory, Hornets guard Chris Paul said, “It can't (mean something more). It is another win. I am not a rookie. I have actually been
on a team where we won by 20 in San Antonio. So that team over there, they are going to try to figure out what happened, but the next team they play ... they are not going to think about this one. ... Good win for us, but it's on to the next one."
Only two players of San Antonio scored points in double figures. Spurs forward Tiago Splitter was the team's leading scorer with 11 points. Tony Parker was the only the
Spur’s starter to reach double-figure with 10 points. Spurs forward Tim Duncan the only Spurs player struggling from the field as he shot 2-for-11 from the field for six points in only 23 minutes.
Play by Play
Both teams started ice cold and played sloppy basketball during the opening quarter. San Antonio only shot 36.2 percent from the field and only scored 12 points in the first
quarter, allowing the Hornets to take a single-point lead (13-12) into the second.
Both teams played the second quarter offensively as they played tenacious shots and limited the turnovers. However, New Orleans managed to make it to the free throw line
later on, to help build a 41-38 lead into the locker room.
After only holding a 41-38 halftime lead, the Hornets pummeled the Spurs on both ends of the floor going on a 24-2 run in the third quarter to push New Orleans ahead 66-42
with 3:24 left in the quarter. The Hornets limited the Spurs to just 10 points in the third, taking a 72-48 advantage into the final stanza.
New Orleans and San Antonio started the fourth quarter at a crisp pace, using 24 possessions apiece. However, D. J. Mbenga’s 3-pointer closed another successful session
for the Hornets.
Interesting facts
The 24-point loss for San Antonio is its most lopsided loss of the season.
New Orleans also had season bests in rebounds (57) and 3-pointers made (12) and 3-point shooting percentage (80 percent).
The Hornets had their third sellout of the season with a paid attendance of 18,023.
Hornets center Emeka Okafor had five blocked shots alone.
The Hornets have now compiled two eight-game winning streaks this season.
It is for the first time in franchise history that the Hornets held consecutive opponents to 72 points or less.
The teams will not meet again this season, so the season series finished tied 2-2.
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