Spurs thrash Hornets

SAN ANTONIO, Texas: Reigning National Basketball Association champions San Antonio Spurs kept their season alive on Thursday with an emphatic 99-80 victory over the New Orleans Hornets.

Manu Ginobili scored 25 points and Tim Duncan added 20 points with 15 rebounds for the Spurs, who fended off elimination and forced a decisive Game 7 in their Western Conference second-round series.

Now the Spurs must secure the first victory by a road team in the series at New Orleans Arena on Monday if they are to keep their title defense alive.