Created Sunday, 29 April 2007 19:24

Veterans Lead Spurs to Victory

Written by Randy Watson

 The Spurs \"Big 3,\" Duncan, Ginobili, and Parker, provided the most points for San Antonio, but it was two of the savvy, older veterans, Robert Horry and Michael Finley, who provided the clutch baskets when they were needed.  The Spurs, trailing late in the third period, needed a spark, and who better to give it to them then the man known as \"Big Shot Bob?\" 

Together, Finley and Horry are 70 years old, but on Saturday, they played like they were in their prime. With his team trailing by a point in the third, Finley hit a three to give San Antonio a two point lead.  Minutes later, it was Horry\"s turn, as he made a steal, hit a three, and then buried another a minute later.  Finley wasn\"t done either, hitting another 3 with a minute left in the half to break the game wide open, and dash the hopes of the Nuggets.  Denver would never recover.  For the game, Horry scored 10 points (2-5 on three-pointers), and pulled down 6 rebounds in 28 minutes of action.  Finley scored 16 points (5-7 for three-pointers), and had 5 rebounds in 29 minutes.

Denver’s Iverson and Anthony got their points, combining for 48, but Iverson was hassled throughout the contest, and only shot 7-20, and was 0-3 from behind the arc.  Clearly, San Antonio’s defense had an effect on his game.  For the Spurs, Duncan accounted for 20 points and 13 rebounds, while Parker led the team with 21 points.  Manu Ginobili scored 19, and hit two crucial free throws to ice the game with 7.8 seconds left in the game and the Spurs only up by two. 

Most importantly, the Spurs have regained the home court advantage that they lost by dropping the first game in the series.  The Spurs are now in control of this series, but will certainly have to stay focused and keep the intensity against this young, but dangerous Nuggets team.  San Antonio’s veteran leadership clearly paid off in this game, but Denver will be looking to even the series at home Monday night.  Certainly, all the games so far have been close, and this series will be a dog fight until the end.