29.12.2005

NEW ORLEANS (84) AT SAN ANTONIO (111)
Stats

The San Antonio Spurs learned their lesson against New Orleans 
earlier this month -- don't let the Hornets keep it close enough 
to steal a win.

Michael Finley led five Spurs in double figures with 18 points, 
and San Antonio shut down New Orleans' offense after the opening 
minutes in a 111-84 victory over the Hornets on Thursday night.

The Spurs, who lost to the Hornets on Dec. 18 in Oklahoma City 
after fading in the final period, were 11-for-15 on 3s and their 
lead grew to as many as 32 points in the fourth quarter before 
both teams emptied their benches.

"It was an unspoken motivation for us against them tonight," 
said Finley, who scored a team-high 17 in that loss. "They beat 
us pretty well at their place, and we just wanted to establish 
ourselves early and often, and I think we did that."

Finley, still in the starting lineup even after Manu Ginobili's 
return from a foot injury, made all four of his 3-point shots 
and Beno Udrih made both of his attempts behind the arc.

New Orleans coach Byron Scott said he tried to tell his team to 
be ready for the Spurs to come out hard and fast.

"I told them, 'They remember the last time they played us and 
they're going to try to destroy us," said Scott. "I don't think 
they believed me, but now I think they understand exactly what 
I was trying to say."

The Hornets started the same way they finished the earlier win. 
They made nine of their first 13 shots -- the last one a 3 by J.R. 
Smith -- to take a 20-15 midway through the opening period.

New Orleans then missed 10 of their next 11 attempts as San 
Antonio went on a 20-2 run to build a 35-22 lead after one. Tim 
Duncan started the run with a turnaround jump hook, and Manu 
Ginobili and Finley ended it with consecutive 3s.

"We played into the middle of the first quarter and then we couldn't 
get any rhythm," said P.J. Brown. "I know our offense wasn't 
good, but I think our defense wasn't there either."

After their early success, the Hornets shot 36 percent from the 
floor (23-for-64) the rest of the way and committed 17 turnovers.

Duncan added 17 points for San Antonio, which shot 59 percent 
as a team. Tony Parker had 16 and Ginobili 14.

Ginobili, who returned Tuesday after missing eight games with a 
sprained right foot, said he's slowly playing himself back into 
shape, though sometimes it's hard to hold back.

"I am not trying to rush anything right now," he said. "In the 
first quarter I pushed my offensive (play). I just wanted to see 
where I am at now."

David West was the only Hornets player in double figures with 
18 points. Chris Paul, the team's leading scorer at 16.7 points 
per game, finished with six on 3-for-12 shooting.

New Orleans made its first three shots in the second, but the 
Spurs extended their advantage with 3s by Brent Barry and Nick 
Van Exel.

The lead slipped to 49-41 on a layup by Desmond Mason with about 
5 minutes left in the half, but layups by Rasho Nesterovic and 
Ginobili started a 15-4 burst that made it 64-44 at the break. 
Robert Horry added a dunk and a 3-pointer.