News / Sports
NBA Scores: San Antonio Spurs Use Big Fourth Quarter to Overcome Hornets
Tim Duncan scored 31 points and Brent Barry added 15, all on three-pointers, as the San Antonio Spurs (51-20) overcame a nine point fourth quarter deficit to beat the NO/Oklahoma City Hornets (32-40) 92-88.
Both teams struggled to score throughout the first quarter and the period ended in an 18-18 tie. Duncan scored eight in the opening frame to pace the Spurs.
The second quarter brought a little more offense as Rasual Butler hit four three-pointers in the quarter for the Hornets. San Antonio hung with the Hornets and the quarter featured Duncan’s first three-pointer of the season but NO/Oklahoma City end the half in front 52-46.
In the third quarter the Hornets had pushed their lead to 12 but Duncan brought the Spurs back scoring ten points over the next four minutes and San Antonio was within five. Manu Ginobili hit one of two free-throws to cut the deficit to four but the Hornets scored the last five points to head into the fourth with a nine point advantage.
NO/Oklahoma City started the fourth quarter slowly and the Spurs made them pay. Brent Barry hit three three-pointers and San Antonio opened with a 14-4 run that put them in front 80-77. Jannero Pargo tied the score on a three-pointer and Chris Paul was able to give them a brief one-point lead with 1:42 on the clock but Barry hit his fourth three-pointer of the quarter with 17 seconds left. Jacque Vaughn sealed the game with a pair of free-throws with one second left.
Paul led the Hornets with 20 points and had 9 assists in the loss.
