NBA Update: Second half analysis – San Antonio Spurs vs. Dallas Mavericks
The Spurs led the Mavericks in the first half of the game. Let’s now take a look at how the third and fourth quarters shaped up.
Third quarter
Richard Jefferson missed a driving layup shot at the very beginning of the third quarter and Wilson Chandler grabbed a rebound for the Mavericks immediately. DeShawn Stevenson missed a three-pointer attempt and Tony Parker rebounded the ball for the Spurs.
Caron Butler initiated with a jump shot as Jason Kidd gave him an assist to score the first two points of the third quarter for the Mavericks. Kidd grabbed a rebound after Tim Duncan missed a jump shot with 10 minutes left on the clock.
Kidd committed a shooting foul and Duncan pulled out both the given free throws easily. This gave the Spurs a 56-51 lead over the Mavericks. Gary Neal committed a shooting foul that earned the Mavericks two points from the free throws.
Mavericks closed on the Spurs and almost took the lead when Chandler grabbed an alley oop layup shot with 3 minutes left on the clock. The Spurs were not willing to let go of the hard-earned lead easily. George Hill grabbed a driving layup shot that furthered
their lead to 65-62.
The Spurs took a six-point lead over the Mavericks by the end of third quarter, 71-64.
Fourth quarter
Mavericks’ defence was not up to the mark Thursday night. The ball kept slipping out of their hands. It was evident when Jason Terry initiated the fourth quarter and missed a driving bank shot. Antonio McDyess grabbed a rebound immediately but Bonner missed
the layup shot as Alexis Ajinca blocked the ball. Ajinca clinched a running hook shot to make it 66 for the Mavericks.
McDyess thought that he had to pull out a shot for the Spurs. He went forward to make a running finger roll layup shot while Ginobili assisted him.
While the Spurs still led the game, Neal pinned down a three pointer to accelerate the scores further, 81-71. Trying to come into action, Brian Cardinal regulated a three point shot for the Mavericks, going 74-81. Jefferson jumped ahead with another three
pointer shot for Spurs.
With 3 minutes 16 seconds in buzzer, Richard Jefferson committed a shooting foul and Butler grabbed both the free throws provided. The Spurs still had a 10-point advantage over the mavericks, 88-78.
Chandler committed a shooting foul with just 1 minute and 57 seconds left on the clock. Neal grabbed both free throw attempts given to the Spurs. Ginobili was charged with a personal foul and Butler redeemed both the free throws for Mavs.
Two of Parker’s free throw attempts came before Steve Novak clinched a three pointer for the Mavericks right before the buzzer rang. These were the last shots on the rim and Spurs led the Mavericks to win the game 99-93.
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