By Elizabeth White
Associated Press
SAN ANTONIO ó Warming up before Game 4, Tim Duncan decided to have a little fun. He threw the ball behind his back and between his legs, then went up for the lay-in.
Yep, it was going to be that easy.
Duncan had his best game of the series against New Orleans ó 22 points, 15 rebounds, four blocks ó to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 100-80 victory over the Hornets on Sunday.
iIím just trying to do my part,î Duncan said. iItís just that. Youíve got to step up at playoff time. Itís win or go home. So youíve got to step up and make plays.î
The Spurs have stormed back from an 0-2 deficit that looked tough to overcome, especially after the losses in Games 1 and 2 were each by nearly 20 points.
Now the Spurs, the old guard and defending champions, and Hornets, this yearís youthful surprise success story, are even at 2-2 in the Western Conference semifinals.
Tony Parker added 21 points for the Spurs, who are assured of a Game 6 back in San Antonio. Game 5 is Tuesday in New Orleans.
iWeíve got to play Game 5 the same way we approached Game 3 and 4,î San Antonioís Manu Ginobili said. iThat is going to be huge, so we donít have to have any satisfaction with what we just accomplished. We are the same way we started.î
The Spurs led by as many as 27 and were ahead nearly the entire game. They shot 51 percent, and the Hornets were cold when it counted. They shot 37 percent through three quarters and finished at 40 percent.
iOur intensity was terrible. From Game 1 to Game 4, ours has gotten worse and theirs has gotten better,î Hornets coach Byron Scott said. iAnd thatís been the difference. Theyíre just kicking our butts right now. Is that simple enough?î
San Antonio scored 40 points in the paint. New Orleansí plan to keep Parker out of the lane didnít work, as he knifed his way through heavy traffic, found openings to get to the rim and hit jumpers.
Ginobili, who also got to the rim at will in Game 3, wasnít as successful in Game 4. But he hit jumpers and two 3-pointers, finishing with 15 points. Parker and Ginobili each had eight of the Spursí 27 assists. The Hornets had 12 assists ó five from Paul.
The Spurs outrebounded the Hornets 45-36 and outscored them 30-19 in the decisive third quarter.
New Orleansí David West had three blocks but was held to 10 points on 4-for-15 shooting. Reserve Jannero Pargo scored 11 points for the Hornets.
iWeíve just got to make sure weíre responding. Thatís the key,î West said. iWe have to respond to what theyíre trying to do. If weíre not able to do that, weíre going to find ourselves in some trouble.î
The Hornets were hoping to return to New Orleans with a commanding 3-1 series lead, but they allowed Duncan and Parker to shoot a combined 18-for-25 from the field. The only area in which the duo struggled was free-throw shooting. Duncan was 2-for-5 and Parker 5-for-8.
iI really canít explain this one,î Paul said. iWe just looked pretty bad out there tonight. Weíve got to bounce back. We came out here to try and get a win here, and we came up short. But the good thing about it is itís just 2 to 2 now. Now itís a three-game series. First one to win two games wins it; thereís no time to panic.î
Paul said that after the Game 3 loss, too. And the Spurs will still need to win one the Hornetsí court. So far thatís been a tough task, with only one team losing at home in the second round of the playoffs.
The Spurs were ahead for all but 3:24 in the first half, taking the lead for good after Parkerís layup with 8:36 to play in the first quarter broke a 4-all tie.
San Antonio shot 57.5 percent in the first half, led by Parker and Duncan, who each hit 7-for-10 from the field. Parker had no problem getting to the rim early to lead the Spurs with 18 points at the break.
iOur defense was solid tonight,î Parker said. iWe are trying to do a better job on Chris Paul and David West, but our help defense was great tonight, and so we have to play the same defense on the road now.î
Parker had two layups as part of a 13-2 Spurs run, and his jumper capped the burst with 5:27 left in the second quarter to put the Spurs up 45-28.
Duncan had 15 points and three blocks at the half. He started the series with a miserable five points and three rebounds in Game 1. After suffering from flu-like symptoms and running a fever earlier in the series ó something he was loath to discuss ó he said the day before Game 4 that he was feeling good.
His spin move on Tyson Chandler for an easy layup put San Antonio up 47-33 with four minutes left in the half.
Paul had 14 points at halftime, but the Hornets were down 55-42 at the break. West was struggling as he was harassed by the Spurs but also missed a couple of open shots, including an airball to start the second quarter.
In the third quarter, when the Hornets were so dominant in the first two games, the Spurs kept up their hot shooting and New Orleans got worse.
Chandler had to sit with 8:39 to play after picking up his fourth and fifth fouls in quick succession. He finished with just two points ó a pair of free throws ó and four rebounds.