Facing a must-win or exit the NBA playoffs situation, the San Antonio Spurs showed why they are champions by routing the Hornets 99-80 to force a winner-take-all Game 7 on Monday in New Orleans.
"That's what you want to have, an opportunity," said Spurs point guard Tony Parker. "That's why Game 6 was huge. We won the game and now we have an opportunity to win a game on the road."
Manu Ginobili scored 25 points, Tim Duncan had 20 points and 15 rebounds, and Parker added 15 points to tie the Western Conference semifinals.
"We know what we're facing. We're facing elimination," Duncan said. "And we know we have to put a good game together there. ... We're going to take it in there and it's do-or-die."
Chris Paul led the Hornets with 21 points and eight assists, and Tyson Chandler scored 14 points. David West had 10 points on 4-of-14 shooting before leaving the game early in the fourth quarter after aggravating a back injury.
"It's sore right now. Good thing we have two or three days here to get rest and treatment. It's the way it happens sometimes," West said.
Despite the closeness of the series, Game 6, like the five before it, was won by double digits. It was also won, like those before it, in the third quarter, when the Spurs outscored the Hornets 20-12.
"It's something about them third quarters," Paul said. "It's the same way in New Orleans. In Game 5 they felt like they couldn't get a break. The same thing for us tonight."
Source: Xinhua\agencies
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