San Antonio Spurs romp to their 50th win of the season; trounce the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-99
On Wednesday night at the Quicken Loans Arena, the San Antonio Spurs recuperated from an unexpected loss to the Memphis Grizzlies with a thumping 109-99 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. In doing so, they became the first NBA team
this season to reach the 50-wins milestone. With only 20 odd game left in the season they have now become the run-away favorites for finishing at the top of the league in the regular season.
George Hill was fantastic on the night. He gathered 22 points and five assists as the Spurs marked their 12th successive 50-win season.
"I just wanted to come out tonight and not really focus on anything, and just play basketball. I felt like I let my team and my fans down last night. That's why I told the fans, 'Sorry, I'll be back the next game.” Hill said. Hill
said after the game.
The victory also tied them with the Los Angeles Lakers for the most successive 50-win mark in NBA history with.
Samardo Samuels scored a game-high 23 for Cleveland. His incredible effort though, turned out to be insufficient against the inexorable Spurs.
In a match-up between the NBA’s best and the NBA’s worst, the Cavs did not make the life easy for the Spurs though. They confronted the visitors vigorously and led by 36-28 early in the second quarter. Manu Ginobili, Hill and DeJuan
Blair however combined at that point as the Spurs reeled off a 29-16 run to finish the first half with a 57-52 advantage. The Spurs never relinquished their lead after that.
The first quarter depicted a striking confrontation from both the teams, who were striving to gain advantage. Ramon Session and Alonzo Gee combined for 17 points to put the home team on the frontline, 25-24, at the end of the first
period.
George Hill lifted the momentum for Spurs in the second quarter as he dominated the scoring in the period. He gathered 11 points leaving few options for the home team to excel and managed to acquire 5 points advantage as the game
progressed into halftime.
The second half of the game witnessed an extensive domination from the visitors as the Cavs entirely lost their drive. Hill started the romp when he banged in a missile from downtown. Al Jefferson, Tim Duncan and Blair followed
suit in the ensuing minutes as the Spurs carved out a 23-9 run that sparked them to an 80-61 lead. The Cavs tried to close the gap in the last 3:50 of the quarter, but the Spurs hung tough to take an 89-72 lead into the final phase.
They Cavs tried to spark a fight back in the fourth, but it was too little too late as the Spurs breezed onto a 109-99 victory.
The Cavs coach Byron Scott said post-game.
"Our guys fought and played hard, but that team is just way too good. They do not make a lot of mistakes. That's why they've won championships."
One bad outcome that came out from the game for the Spurs though, was the injury to Tony Parker, one which may keep him sidelined for couple of weeks. However, it may provide an opportunity for George Hill to avail more minutes
at point guard and prove his worth.
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