8/11/2003
San Antonio vs. Dallas Mavericks
The battle of the Texans was on tonight. Dallas not quite in full force with their number 1 Center Raef LaFrentz out with injury with Shawn Bradley the replacement.
Jugs Magadag and Gregg Popovich discussed the form of Stephen Jackson and Johnathon Bender and are giving them one more chance to prove their spot in the starting line-up. "We've noticed Robert Horry coming off the bench and help Tim Duncan with some scoring and Rasho Nesterovic helping in the D side of the game. We are havin no problems with our guards except for their english," Jugs Magadag said at the Pre-Game interview.
Dallas came out with a flying start, scoring the first 6 points of the match but Duncan refused the Mavericks running away with this game, scoring the Spurs first 6 points. Duncan blew an easy dunk but the score still remained even. The quarter ended with Dallas infront 21-20.
Tim Duncan ended the quarter with 8 points and 3 rebounds while Johnathon Bender rejected 3 times and Parker notching up 2 assists. Dallas only had 3 different scorers in the quarter, Nowitzki with 10, Finley 7 and Jamison 4 points. The Spurs shot 33% from the Field.
The Spurs took an early 2 point lead but Mavericks took the lead and then Stephen Jackson fired up draining two 3 pointers and 2 Free Throws in a row to take back the lead to 6 points. San Antonio were starting to find their 3 point touch when Ginobili drained another from beyond the arc. Jackson was starting to find foul trouble picking up his 4th personal. Steve Nash drains a shot clock beating 3 pointer to reduce lead to 3 points.
The quarter ended with Spurs infront 52-46. Tim Duncan leading the Spurs with 18 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists. Ginobili notched up 12 points with Horry and Jackson with 8 points each. Johnathon Bender grabbed 3 rebounds and 3 blocks with Rasho Nesterovic grabbing 4 rebounds and 2 blocks. Finley scored 15 points with Shawn Bradley on 7 rebounds and Rod Strickland on 4 assists. The Biggest surprise was Dirk Nowitzki being kept scoreless in the 2nd quarter.
The 3rd quarter started with Dallas posting a comeback to take the lead but Jackson drained a 3 to take back the lead. Jackson managed to reject Nowitzki big time and the Spurs lead extends out to 11 points. But Stephen Jackson got fouled out and the Mavericks manage to post another comeback to tie up the game. Dallas take a 1 point lead but Duncan refuses them to go any further and takes back the lead in the next play. Steve Nash started to catch fire with his 3 pointers but Duncan refused the Mavericks to go out on a break. The crowd was enjoying Nash and Duncan exchange points until the quarter ended with the scores tied 80-80. Dirk Nowitzki was kept scoreless again in this quarter.
The final quarter begain with the Mavericks taking an early 4 point lead. Duncan dunks to cut the lead to 1 point while Anthony Carter and Kevin Willis see their first minutes of the season. Steve Smith drained a 3 pointer to level the match at 99-99 and Johnathon Bender's lay-up gives San Antonio a 2 point lead. Nowitzki scored his first points since the 1st quarter with 1 minute to go. Steve Nash went on a fast break and cut the lead down to 2 points but the Spurs score 5 points to extend the lead to 7 with 26 seconds remaining. The Spurs were victorious, 118-114.
The Player of the Game was Tim Duncan recording 31 points, 12 rebounds, 3 blocks and 6 assists. Manu Ginobili recorded 28 points and 3 steals. Tony Parker notched up 20 points, 10 assists and 3 steals. Stephen Jackson added 13 points and 4 rebounds. Johnathon Bender was cold with 6 points but in defense notching up 8 rebounds and 6 blocks. Rasho Nesterovic notched up 6 blocks, 5 rebounds and 5 assists off the bench. Michael Finley scored 30 points. Steve Nash recorded 25 points 10 assists. Antawn Jamison adding 21 points. Dirk Nowitzki was kept to 14 points. Shawn Bradley dominate in defense with 14 rebounds and 4 blocks.
Manu Ginobili in the post game press conference, "We played really well again to keep Dallas taking the game from us and Tim (Duncan) do-dominated again and Parker as-assisted good."
Jugs Magadag wished not to speak to the media after an accident in his pants.
Dirk Nowitzki at the post game press conference, "We should of done better, I've should of done better, why did Raef (LaFrentz) get injured, stupidhead."
Thanks Again and Good Night
Last edited by
Jugs on Mon Mar 21, 2005 8:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.