Spurs vs. Bobcats Recap

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With the Spurs beating the Sacramento Kings, the Spurs (10-9) hosted the Charlotte Bobcats (9-11) tonight in San Antonio.  It was a reunion of sorts as former Spurs coach Larry Brown and players Stephen Jackson and Nazr Mohammed returned to San Antonio.

Turnovers had been killing the Spurs in the past games and with that, how did the Spurs do?  This is how it went down in San Antonio.

First Quarter:

Spurs started with Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Keith Bogans, Antonio McDyess, and Richard Jefferson.

RJ opened things up for the Spurs with an outside shot and McDyess chipped in with some outside shooting as well. At the 9:45 point of the quarter it was 6-3, Spurs.

Bobcats’ Stephen Jackson came out of a timeout with a three but RJ answered back with a three of his own. McDyess continued to look good early on  and hit his outside shots and had a nice dunk.  Duncan got in the act with a shot over Nazr Mohammed but RJ picked up his second foul and was taken out of the game.

The Spurs went on a 7-0 run and at the 3:44 point it was 20-15 Spurs.  However, the Bobcats went on a 7-0 run as well but Bogans hit a three to stop their run.

Crazy play as George Hill was stripped by Bobcats Raymond Felton, Felton then turned the ball over and was picked up by Bogans.  Bogans then had the ball stolen from him by Felton which lead to Coach Pop being livid on the sidelines.

The Spurs end the quarter on an 8-0 run and at the end of the first it was 29-19, Spurs. Leading the way for the Spurs was Duncan with seven points. Spurs shot 60% from the field and they committed seven turnovers.

Second Quarter:

Spurs started with McDyess, Hill, Ginobili, Bonner and Bogans.

It was an all Manu quarter. He started the quarter with a dunk for an “and 1.”  Then he hit a three.  McDyess had a monster block on a Bobcats player and Hill had a strong drive to the rim to pick up the “and 1.”  At the 8:42 point it was 36-25, Spurs.

McDyess and RJ hooked up for a nice play that led to an RJ reverse layup. Then Manu and Hill hit threes and at the 5:59 point of the quarter it was 44-32, Spurs.

Next the Spurs went on a 10-0 run and the Spurs were up 52-32 at the 2:50 point of the quarter.  Manu led this run and at the end of the half it was 59-42, Spurs.

Manu led the way with 20 points off the bench. Spurs shot 61% from the field so far in the game but committed 13 turnovers.

Third Quarter:

Spurs started with Duncan, Parker, Bogans, McDyess, and Bogans.

Who says Duncan doesn’t show emotion? Early on in the quarter TD picks up a technical foul for reacting to a foul.

RJ then drove to the rim for the “and 1” but turnovers continued to be an issue for the Spurs. At the 8:34 point of the quarter it was 65-50, Spurs.

The third quarter then became a foul fest. At one point the refs called 38 fouls. Needless to say the third took forever to end.

Theo Ratliff got some significant time on the court for the Spurs and was a presence. He blocked shots, dunked the ball and even committed a flagrant foul on Bobcats’ D. Brown.  However, The Bobcats cut into the Spurs lead and cut it down to one and at the end of the third it was 72-71, Spurs.

It was a forgettable third quarter as the Spurs barely managed to score 13 points in the quarter and committed 23 turnovers so far for the game!

Manu leading the way for the Spurs with 22 points off the bench and the Spurs shot 55% so far for the game.

Fourth Quarter:

Spurs started with Duncan, Hill, McDyess, Bogans and Ginobili.

Duncan started strong for the Spurs. Hitting the outside shot and finishing at the rim. McDyess showed hustle for the Spurs. Diving out of bounds to prevent the ball from going out of bounds, hustling for rebounds and providing a spark for the Spurs.

At the 8:36 point of the quarter it was 80-73, Spurs.

Hill was having a nice game and helped the Spurs put the Bobcats away when he hit a three midway through the fourth.

The Spurs then went on an 11-0 run and the rest was history.

Spurs cruised in the fourth and put the Bobcats away. Final score 104-85, Spurs withe the win. Spurs record is now 11-9.  Their next game will be against the Los Angeles Clippers in Los Angeles.

Shiny Spur Award — Manu Ginobili
Rusty Spur Award — Matt Bonner

Notes:

  • Spurs committed 28 turnovers for the game.
  • Ginobili was spectacular tonight off the bench for the Spurs. 22 points, was 4/5 from three-point line, four rebounds, two assists and two steals.
  • Parker had 10 assists but committed seven turnovers.
  • Spurs bench scored 47 points, led by Ginobili with 22 points.
  • Spurs shot 59% from the floor, shot 59% from the three-point line and 67% from the free-throw stripe.
  • Ratliff needs to get more minutes for the Spurs. He was a defensive presence and scored four points and grabbed five rebounds.
  • Duncan finished one rebound shy of another double-double with 17 points and nine rebounds.
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Michael is the founder and editor of ProjectSpurs.com. He has a long history in journalism, sports and online media. Michael has been interviewed by the BBC, SportTalk, the Sports Reporters Radio Show, MemphisSportLive, OKC Sports Wrap and ESPN radio among others.