Luis Scola | SAN ANTONIO SPURS TICKETS

Rockets survive huge dropoff

HOUSTON — The seemed to be rolling in the first half against New Orleans, shooting well and building a double-digit lead.

Luis Scola knew better.

“We weren’t executing the right way,” the Rockets forward said. “They came back, and that’s what happens when you don’t play good.”

Houston survived one of the worst fourth quarters in team history to hold off the Hornets 90-88 in overtime on Thursday night. scored 27 of his 32 points in the first half, grabbed a season-high 17 rebounds and the Rockets won their fifth straight game.

Barely.

“It just looked like the life was out of us,” Martin said. “But we found a way to pull out that one.”

Courtney Lee had a season-high 17 points and added 10 points and eight assists for the Rockets, who shot 3 for 21 in the fourth quarter and mustered seven points, matching a team record set three times previously.

Martin hit 10 of 14 shots in the first half, then went 2 for 6 in the fourth.

“I always tell them, ‘Give the fight, and do your best,’” New Orleans coach said. “We did everything we could to win the game.”

Here’s what the Spurs and Rockets said after Wednesday’s game

The Spurs media services people were ready with their notebooks and tape recorders after the Spurs’ 101-95 victory over Houston Wednesday night.

Here’s what both teams had to say:

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich

(On the way Tim Duncan responded tonight…)

“For the number of games and all that, I thought Timmy and Tony were great in keeping everything solid for us, the way they do. They hung tough. Kawhi was great and again, defensively, starting to figure out what’s going on. Timmy and Tony lead the way for us and of course, Richard stepped up and made a huge shot.”

(On the Spurs’ defense…)

“The first quarter, they drilled us. We played the kind of defense we played last night in Milwaukee. It’s early. We’re going to stay on them. We know that’s where the money is, that’s where it’s at. You’ve got to play “D” and we’ll keep at it.”

(How important was it for Kawhi to be able to defend the perimeter on both Martin and Lowry?)

“It’s huge for us to have a guy on the team that can do similar things to what Bruce (Bowen) did in the past. This young man has a lot to learn, but as I’ve said a lot of times, he’s very willing, he’s very versatile and I think he’s got the ability to be one heck of a player and he wants to be. We’re excited about him.”

(On Duncan’s ability, even at this stage of his career, to make that one play that is needed…be it a pass, block, rebound…)

“Tim’s a competitor. It doesn’t matter. Just because he’s a little older, doesn’t mean that he’s not going to compete to the best of his ability. He’s got a huge basketball I.Q., a great drive and he’s going to do anything he can to help his team win.”

Spurs forward Tim Duncan

(On passing Larry Bird on the all-time career scoring list…)

“Really? Wow. How’d I do that? (in the background: Free Throws) I didn’t want to pass him, out of respect, I was missing them (free throws) for him. It’s great. That’s unbelievable. I didn’t realize I was anywhere close to him.”

(On being the leader and keeping the team together during this stretch…)

“Yeah, absolutely. I’m still a big part of his team and I want to be a leader of this team. I want to be a leader on and off the floor. I want Pop and the rest of the guys to count on me to do that and I’m ready for that.”

(On Tony Parker’s play tonight…)

“He’s unbelievable. I know he’s going to be worn out tomorrow. He had a great night. He did just about everything for us. He continued to attack every time down the floor every time when we called on his number. He found a way to get things done. Whether it was finding open shooters or getting all the way to the rack or making jump shots in the lane. Whatever it may be, he was great for us.”

Spurs guard Tony Parker

(On winning the game in dramatic fashion…)

“I’m happy with this one. It was a tough one. Houston is a very physical team and they played great tonight. Everybody had to play great and it was a great win for us. We needed it.”

(On his desperation shot…)

“I lost the ball. I went into my shot and I lost it. I turned around, had a good look at the basket and it went in. So it was one of those nights for me. It was just a good night.”

(On Tim and himself stepping up in the fourth quarter…)

“I was just being aggressive. I was trying to be aggressive on the pick-in-rolls and Timmy was playing great in the post. They weren’t doubling him and with no double team, we kept passing the ball to Timmy. He played great. He missed a couple free throws in overtime but overall he had a great game.”

Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard

(On playing 10 games and getting used to the NBA…)

“I’m getting more comfortable on the court. Just knowing the offense more and my teammates are helping me out each and every game. I’m feeling more comfortable, basically.”

(Does it make you better playing against the best player on the opposing team…)

“I think so. Guarding the best player always helps your game. It involves being physical and playing at a high level every game.”

Houston Rockets coach Kevin McHale:

(When asked if it’s tougher to execute in overtime)

“We had some good looks. We were up one and we had two put backs, but we missed them. It got tougher for them (the Spurs) too. It gets tougher for everybody down the stretch. Everybody ties in a little bit more. The whistles get a little bit tighter. That’s just the way it is.”

(When asked Gregg Popovich said this team is the worst defensive team he’s had, do you agree)

“The played well and they won the game. They made some big shots. Tony (Parker) hit the big fadeaway at the end of the shot clock. We had plenty of chances. I was just happy that our guys went out and competed. We’re making strides to getting where we want to go.”

(When asked if the end of regulation play was meant for Luis Scola the whole way)

“Yeah, we had a play set up, and then we drew that up for Luis (Scola) to get down in the post.”

(When asked his thoughts on Tim Duncan passing Larry Bird on the career scoring list)

“He’s been great. He’s one of the best players to play this game.”

Houston Rockets guard Kyle Lowry:

(What was the problem for you guys offensively towards the end of the game?)

“A couple plays weren’t executed as properly as we should have executed them and a couple shots didn’t fall. I had two offensive tip-ins that didn’t fall. It just happened that some shots didn’t go in for us tonight.”

(On Spurs’ defense in the fourth quarter)

“They’re a great defensive team, we just missed some shots.”

Houston Rockets forward, Luis Scola:

(Was it tougher to get open shots down the stretch?)

“It usually is. Towards the end of the game, the defense picks up and tries to play more intense. The game is on the line, so I wouldn’t say it would be tougher. On both sides, not just for us on offense but probably for the other team on offense too. It’s just how the game goes usually.”

(Did you sense extra intensity from the Spurs playing without Manu?)

“Manu is very important for them and T.J. Ford is out too. We also have a couple guys out too. Everybody gets injured. It’s just a part of the game. Those guys can play. Tony Parker can play, Duncan can play, and all those guys can play. Obviously, they would prefer to play with Manu every game. We would prefer to play with all the players every game, but that just doesn’t happen and it’s just the way it is. Manu will be out for a long time so they are probably going to get used to playing without them.”

(Did the Spurs do anything different defensively to stop you?)

“I don’t know. You have to ask them, I don’t know.”

(Thoughts on Spurs’ defense tonight)

“They look like a good defensive team tonight. I don’t know what has been happening in the other games.”

Parker, Duncan provide finishing touch for Spurs

By Jeff McDonald
jmcdonald@express-news.net

Time went by, and the minutes kept coming, then came overtime. By the end of a much-needed 101-95 Spurs victory Wednesday, Tim Duncan was sweating into his 73rd minute in two nights, logging the kind of playing time that, at age 35, had become a faded memory of younger era.

Asked afterward if he could give another 35 minutes today, if the schedule required it, Duncan answered with a mix of wry wit and realism.

“I think I could,” he said. “But my body might think differently.”

Duncan was never one for gaudy numbers or flashy statistics, and Father Time has robbed him of what little athleticism Mother Nature gave him. Even his signature banker is no longer automatic.

Yet what Duncan still has, hidden behind those blank-stare eyes yet on display minute-by-minute at the ATT Center in a game the Spurs absolutely had to have, is a burning desire to win.

Against Houston, Duncan filled his box score with 17 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, two blocks and three steals. In the process, he passed Larry Bird for 27th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, laughing that the go-ahead points came at the foul line, a place never all that kind to him.

It was the little things Duncan did that separated him against the Rockets and eventually shoved the Spurs to victory.

It was wrestling with Sam Dalembert for a key rebound. Hitting Tony Parker on a perfectly timed backdoor cut. That one perfect piece of footwork to keep Kyle Lowry from a sure layup in overtime.

“Tim’s a competitor,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of the two-time MVP. “Just because he’s a little older doesn’t mean he’s not going to compete.”

When Manu Ginobili went out with a broken hand, Popovich scoffed at the idea it would be up to his immediate replacement — either James Anderson or Gary Neal or Kawhi Leonard — to pick up the slack.

It was Duncan and Parker, the other two spokes of the Spurs’ Big Three, who would need to raise their games. Wednesday, they delivered, steadying the Spurs (7-4) through some unsure moments to their seventh home victory in as many dates.

For the second game in a row, Parker threw in a season high, this time going for 28 points with eight assists. The 29-year-old point guard played more than 45 minutes, a night after giving almost 36 in a 106-103 loss in Milwaukee.

“He’s unbelievable, man,” Duncan said, with a tinge of envy. “He’s going to be worn out tomorrow.”

Leonard, the rookie from San Diego State, earned his first career start at shooting guard. He replaced Neal, who was moved to the bench upon news that backup point guard T.J. Ford will miss the next four to six weeks with a torn left hamstring.

Leonard finished with 11 points, his third consecutive double-figure game, and eight rebounds and survived a trial by fire chasing Houston scoring machine Kevin Martin.

Martin finished 18 points, but had to work for them. Lowry had 22 points for Houston (3-7). Luis Scola scored 20, but only six after the first quarter.

With both teams having played the night before — Houston won in Charlotte — overtime seemed almost cruel. It seemed especially unkind to Duncan.

Clearly down to his last drop of fuel, Duncan missed his first four tries in OT and was 1 of 4 from the foul line.

Richard Jefferson hit the game’s biggest shot, a corner 3-pointer with 1:09 left in OT that gave the Spurs a 94-92 lead. Moments later, Duncan notched his only basket of the extra frame with 35.8 seconds left, when he spun Dalembert into a pretzel to eke out a shot on the block.

There are nights Duncan can feel the fingers of Father Time. He will probably feel them this morning.

He says he has not heard the whispers, from elsewhere in the NBA, that perhaps his game is not what it used to be.

“I don’t really care,” Duncan said. “I’m just trying to play the game, go out and see what I’ve got.”

Wednesday night, he had just enough.

1 of 10 | Share

Spurs 101, Rockets 95 OT – 20120111

Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs (21) goes up to score the the field game that won the game for the Spurs as Samuel Dalembert of the Houston Rockets defends during the overtime period of NBA action at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. BILLY CALZADA / gcalzada@express-news.netHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Luis Scola of the Houston Rockets attempts to pass off as Tony Parker, left, and Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs reach for the ball during fourth-quarter NBA action at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. BILLY CALZADA / gcalzada@express-news.netHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

DeJuan Blair of the San Antonio Spurs is determined during second-half NBA action at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. BILLY CALZADA / gcalzada@express-news.netHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Tony Parker of the Spurs passes off as Jordan Hill, left, and Chase Bodiner of the Rockets defend during first-half NBA action at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. BILLY CALZADA / gcalzada@express-news.netHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs hangs from the rim as is his custom before the team’s game against the Houston Rockets at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. BILLY CALZADA / gcalzada@express-news.netHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs shoots as Patrick Patterson of the Houston Rockets defends during NBA action at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. BILLY CALZADA / gcalzada@express-news.netHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Tiago Splitter of the San Antonio Spurs is fouled by Goran Dragic, right, of the Houston Rockets as he successfully shoots during NBA first-half action at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. Splitter was able to make the ensuing free throw. BILLY CALZADA / gcalzada@express-news.netHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs dunks against the Houston Rockets during NBA action at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. BILLY CALZADA / gcalzada@express-news.netHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Tiago Splitter of the San Antonio Spurs, in white, is fouled by Luis Scola of the Houston Rockets as he makes a shot during NBA action at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. Splitter was able to convert on the ensuing free throw. BILLY CALZADA / gcalzada@express-news.netHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Matt Bonner of the San Antonio Spurs makes a reverse layup during first-half NBA action against the Houston Rockets at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. BILLY CALZADA / gcalzada@express-news.netHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)