The San Antonio Spurs (54-12) opened up their three game road trip with a win over their division rivals the Houston Rockets (33-34) on Saturday night. After gutting out a win Friday in San Antonio against the Sacramento Kings, the Spurs were able to execute plays down the stretch and get key stops in the last 2 minutes as they defeated the Rockets 115 to 107.
Tony Parker (21 points) and Manu Ginobili (19 points) led the way for a combined team effort as eight players scored in double figures. Antonio McDyess made a major impact with 12 points and 12 rebounds as he got the Spurs going early.
McDyess began the game by making two of his trademarked 18-foot jump shots from the top of the key as the Spurs began with an early seven to two lead.
Tim Duncan made an inbounds steal then converted a 17-foot jump shot to help the Spurs build on their lead. Matt Bonner came into the game and scored on two straight possessions with two light jump hooks.
Ginobili closed the quarter with an “and-1” contorted layup between three Rockets players. At the end of the first, the Spurs led 36 to 25.
In the second quarter, Gary Neal (10 points) made a 15-foot fade away and then a three pointer with a hand in his face for an early five points. Rockets guard Goran Dragic (10 points) sliced up the Spurs interior defense but his shooters couldn’t make the wide-open shots.
The Rockets went on an 8-0 run to cut the Spurs lead to 50-45 late in the quarter. McDyess grabbed an offensive board and made a put back to stop the run as he became the first Spur in double figures.
The Spurs ended the quarter on a 7-2 run sparked by a Ginobili three pointer and two finger rolls by Parker. The Spurs lead the Rockets at halftime 59 to 49 after the Rockets outscored the Spurs 24 to 23 in the second quarter.
The Rockets started the third quarter with a 5-0 run. Duncan ended the run with a layup from a sneaky McDyess pass. After a Kevin Martin three pointer, the Spurs lead was cut to 61-58 early in the third.
The Spurs lost the lead at the 5:53 mark after leading by 13 points earlier in the game.
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