San Antonio Spurs earn close win over the Phoenix Suns
Richard Jefferson had a game-high 28 points off the bench and Tim Duncan added 25 points and 17 rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs (3-1) earned an impressive 112-110 victory over the Phoenix
Suns (1-3) on Wednesday 3 November in Phoenix.
The two squads have developed a healthy rivalry over the years having met in the play-offs in five of the past eight seasons. The international backcourt of the Spurs contributed to the
close win, with Argentinian Manu Ginobli scoring 18 points while Frenchman Tony Parker chipped in with 11 points and six assists.
The Suns were led by two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash, who notched 19 points, six rebounds, and seven assists but had a bad shooting night, going 8-22 from the field. Jason Richardson had a
team-high 21 points while Hakim Warrick added 19 off the bench, shooting an efficient 7-9 from the field. Grant Hill added 15 points and eight rebounds.
What happened
As is typical of Suns-Spurs matchups, the lead changed 13 times over the first half, with the teams entering the break with the game tied 50-50. The Spurs went on a run to open the third
quarter, going up 67-56 when Duncan hit a jumper. But the Suns fought back, entering the final quarter down by only two points.
The final frame belonged to Jefferson, who had a disappointing first season with the Spurs last year. Thanks to three consecutive three-pointers in rapid succession from the same spot
on the floor, the Spurs were able to take a 103-97 lead with just over six minutes to play.
But thanks to some solid playmaking from Warrick, Nash, and Richardson, the Suns went on a quick 9-0 run, putting the Suns up by three with just over three minutes remaining.
The Suns late lead didn’t last long when Spurs centre Antonio McDyess made a pair of free throws and Jefferson made an unlikely fourth three-pointer from the same spot to put the Spurs
up for good at 108-106.
Team records
The Suns are off to a rocky start this season. Last night, they dropped consecutive games for the first time since last January. The last time they got off to a start like this (1-3) was
back in the 2006-07 season.
Meanwhile, the Spurs have gotten wins over the Indiana Pacers, the Los Angeles Clippers, and now the Suns. The only loss they’ve suffered this year was to the New Orleans Hornets, one
of only three unbeaten teams in the league.
What they said
Jefferson averaged only 12.3 points and 4.4 rebounds last year, his first season as a Spur. But after getting hot from behind the arc in last night’s fourth quarter, making four three-pointers,
Jefferson is now averaging 20 points per game this season.
"It was just one of those things where the ball was coming my way," he said. "My teammates made some great passes, they left me open a few times and I was able to knock them down."
Jefferson looks for his team to continue their success in what is a long season.
"We've just got to keep our heads up," he said. "We know this is not a sprint. It's a marathon. It's a long season. Nobody's got their head down. We've got a long way to go and every game
we get better."
Suns coach Alvin Gentry said his team needs to learn how to put teams away when it counts.
"We just have to find a way to finish the game," he said. "We've just got to continue to try and plug away and get a little better."
Tags: