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Spurs hold off Rockets 85-82, Yao scores 25
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-02-10 14:15
Tim Duncan scored 28 points and Manu Ginobili hit two driving layups in the
final minute as the San Antonio Spurs held off the Houston Rockets 85-82
Monday night. It was San Antonio's fifth straight victory and fourth in a row on
the road.
Houston Rockets'
Yao Ming (11), of China, looks to shoot as San Antonio Spurs' Rasho
Nesterovic (8), of Slovenia, and Tony Parker, left, of France, defend
during the third quarter Monday, Feb. 9, 2004 in Houston. The Spurs beat
the Rockets 85-82. [AP] | The Spurs beat the Rockets for the sixth straight time, but this one wasn't
easy.
The Spurs led 67-54 with 10:37 left, but the Rockets tied it 78-78 with 2:01
to play on a jumper by Yao Ming off a pass from Steve Francis.
Duncan tipped in the go-ahead basket with 1:38 to play and Ginobili fought
his way through the lane twice for layups. He then hit a free throw for the
final point of the game.
Francis missed a desperation 3-pointer as the game ended.
Ginobili and Robert Horry each had 13 points for San Antonio. Duncan had 10
rebounds for his 42nd double-double in 49 games.
Yao finished with 25 points and Francis had 18 points and 11 rebounds.
The loss snapped Houston's three-game winning streak.
Trailing 32-20 in the second quarter, the Rockets used a 15-6 run to cut San
Antonio's lead to 38-35 at the end of the half. Francis had six points in the
spurt on a free throw, a 3-point basket and a turnaround jumper.
Francis also missed a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer that would have tied
the score.
Trailing 16-14 in the first quarter, the Spurs went on an 8-0 surge at the
end of the period. Duncan tied it with a jumper, Ginobili followed with a steal
and layup, and Duncan ended it with a 15-foot banked jumper and a baseline
drive.
San Antonio continued the run in the second quarter and ended up with an 18-4
charge and the 32-20 lead, the biggest of the first half.
Notes: Three Western Conference All-Star starters played in the game: Tim
Duncan, Yao Ming and Steve Francis. ... The Rockets are 20-10 this season when
Francis has more than five assists, and they are 9-12 when he has five or fewer
assists. ... New Astros pitcher Roger Clemens was the courtside guest of Rockets
owner Les Alexander. ... Clemens took part in an on-court skit during a timeout.
He pitched inside to a batter in a Spurs jersey and a mock scuffle ensued.
Clemens stayed out of the fake melee.
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