Spurs 84 - 102 Pelicans
Final
  for this game

Duncan, Spurs seek revenge in Game Two vs. Hornets

May 5, 2008 - 1:27 PM San Antonio at New Orleans 9:30 pm EDT Western Conference Semifinal Hornets lead, 1-0

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) - If the San Antonio Spurs are going to have any chance of making it back to the NBA Finals, Tim Duncan has to get back on track.

Duncan and the defending champion Spurs will try to bounce back in Game Two of their Western Conference semifinal series against the New Orleans Hornets on Monday.

With four NBA titles and countless other awards already under his belt, Duncan was a major disappointment with just five points in Saturday's 101-82 blowout loss in the series opener in the "Big Easy."

"Things just didn't go my way," said Duncan, who made just 1-of-9 shots in Game One. "They did a great job. ... I played badly, so credit to them."

"They took away our inside game. Timmy had a rough night," Spurs guard Tony Parker said. " We need to do a better job to get him the ball and try to get him some shots, basically. New Orleans did a good job to take that away from us. That's not Timmy."

Duncan's struggles are also a product of the stellar defense by Hornets big man Tyson Chandler, who had three blocks in Game One.

However, Duncan's woes might be the tip of the iceberg for Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who needs to find someone capable of guarding Hornets All-Star David West.

West collected 30 points and nine rebounds against a host of defenders - including playoff savvy veteran Robert Horry. West has been one of the Hornets' main cogs in the postseason, failing to score under 20 points just once thus far.

"David West is the one that really, really hurt us," said Parker, who netted 23 points. "He made outside shots, and once he made his outside shots he was having the drive, so we can't all focus on Chris Paul."

New Orleans' 19-point victory in opener also proved to be impressive with Paul quietly having 17 points and 13 assists.

Manu Ginobili scored 19 points and Bruce Bowen had all 17 of his in the first half for San Antonio.






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