The Spurs played like defending champions as they evened the series with the Hornets at 2-2 with a 100-80 rout of the Bees on Sunday night in San Antonio.
Tim Duncan, who has shaken the flu bug, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili combined for 54 points in the first three quarters before the Hornets circled their wagons and waved the white flag. The win was the Spurs' 11th straight postseason victory at home. It was not an accident. The Spurs took apart the Hornets' defense while their own handled the Bees at will. This is what happens when you've swept one NBA Finals and played a Game 7 in another.
Tuesday will be the biggest playoff game in Chris Paul's life. He can lean on the fact that the Hornets beat the Spurs twice in the Arena.
The Spurs will have some work to do in the Arena. Winning on the road has become a difficult thing in these playoffs if the first 15 games of the second round are any judge. Road teams are just 1-14. The Spurs must win at least once in the Arena if they are going to eliminate the Hornets.
Paul faced traps, but scored a team-high 23 points with only 5 assists and 4 turnovers. He was unable to find anyone else to make shots.
The Hornets needed scoring help for Paul to win, but couldn't get it. Jannero Pargo was the Hornets' second-leading scorer with 11 points, a bad sign for the Bees. Another bad sign" he took him 14 shots to score 11 points.
The Spurs' Bruce Bowen continued to carry around Peja Stojakovic around in his pocket. Peja has hit only 5 of 16 shots since Bowen began guarding him.
The Spurs' big men have a better read on David West now and Paul is being held to numbers associated with humans. West scored 10 points on 4-of-15 shooting.
The Hornets failed to connect on a single alley-oop play. After the Paul-to-Tyson Chandler play didn't work well in the last game, Chandler's only points came at the end of the first half when the Spurs intentionally fouled him.
Chandler got in foul trouble early, but Coach Byron Scott figures he doesn't have much else to work with when Chandler sits, so he stays with him.
The Duncan who played on Sunday night was an All-Pro who knocked down bank shots and nearly out rebounded the Hornets' starting five by himself. He had 22 points, 15 rebounds and 4 blocks.
"I'm just doing my part," said Duncan, who was averaging 13 points in the series before Game 4. "Guys have to step it up come playoff time."
The Hornets aren't going to roll over. They are young, but they are playing beyond their years. One NBA insider said, "The Hornets are unusually smart and team-oriented for young guys. They're tough. They have a mean edge to them."
"We're playing against the defending champs," said the Hornets coach. "They've been through this a bunch of times. As long as they see me calm and very confident, they'll be the same way.
But referring to the Spurs, Scott said, "Right now, they are kicking our butts."
So the series is tied and now the Hornets have to wonder if an entirely new season has been introduced to them.
Wrote a San Antonio sportswriter after Sunday's game: " I give the Hornets a chance, all right.
