“I was in the right place at the right time, and it bounced right to me.”
Those were the words by San Antonio Spurs veteran forward Antonio McDyess, following the Spurs’ 89-88 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center.
With 2.1 seconds left in the ball game, Tim Duncan shot a 16-foot fade away-jump shot over Lakers (34-16) forward Pau Gasol. The ball hit the rim once and bounced upward, immediately Antonio McDyess tipped the ball in the basket with 0.1 seconds left to win the game.
After having one of his worst games of the season in Portland on Tuesday night (6 points on 3-11 shooting), Spurs guard Tony Parker bounced back to lead the team in Los Angeles with 21 points.
Lakers forward Pau Gasol led the Lakers with 19 points and 7 rebounds. He also made the last two Lakers’ points by sinking two crunch-time free throws.
The game began with both teams exchanging baskets early. Spurs’ forward Richard Jefferson scored 10 points (2-3 from behind the arc) in the first quarter and guard Gary Neal closed the quarter with a buzzer beating shot. The Spurs led 22-18 after the first.
The Lakers found a sufficient rhythm in the second quarter as they went on a 6-0 run and built a 7-point lead (40-33). With back-to-back buckets from Tony Parker and an “and-1” running layup from Manu Ginobili; the Spurs were able to tie the Lakers at halftime 42-42, ending the quarter on a 9-2 run.
Hit the jump to see how it all went down in the second-half between the Spurs and Lakers.
Tony Parker went wild in the third quarter as he scored 14 of his 21 points in the quarter.
After the Spurs lead got as high as 8, Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (16 points, 10 assists, 9 rebounds) and forward Paul Gasol, brought the Lakers within 3 points to end the quarter as Los Angeles trailed 66-63.
The Spurs held the lead up until the final minute of the fourth quarter until the Lakers stormed back and Pau Gasol went to the line to sink two free throws and give Los Angeles the 88-87 lead but the Spurs had two opportunities to win the game.
First, Manu Ginobili (14 points, 8 assists) had a wide-open three pointer that he missed. The Spurs grabbed the rebound and then Tony Parker drove into the lane with a point-blank teardrop that clanked off the rim.
The Spurs had one last try, Tim Duncan took his shot, he missed, but Antonio McDyess was able to tip the ball in for the 89-88 victory.
After, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich gave his take on the battle fought Western Conference game:
“We shot the last shot. If there had been one more shot, maybe they’d have won.”
With the victory, the Spurs improved to 41-8 on the season and increased separation from the Lakers (stretched lead over Los Angeles to 8.5 games).
The Spurs continue their Rodeo Road Trip as they head to the Arco Arena against the Sacramento Kings (12-34) tonight.
Notes
- The common knock on the Spurs this season has been their lack of size on the front line. The Lakers further fueled the criticism toward the Spurs by outrebounding the Spurs 44-38.
- Richard Jefferson continues to increase his production for the Spurs as evident tonight. Jefferson scored 18 points while shooting 4-8 (50%) from behind the arc.
- Lamar Odom continued his consistent production for the Lakers with 16 points and 6 rebounds.
Spurs guard Gary Neal is still trying to break out of his slump, he scored 6 points tonight on 3-5 shooting.
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