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Ginobili Helps Spurs Force Game 7
   posted 12:04 am Fri May 16, 2008 -
(Sports Network) - Manu Ginobili's six three-pointers highlighted his game-high 25 points, as the San Antonio Spurs forced a deciding Game 7 with a dominant 99-80 victory over the New Orleans Hornets in Game 6 of their Western Conference semifinal series at the AT&T Center.
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Each game in this series has been won by the home team by double-digits, and New Orleans hopes the trend continues when it hosts the defending champions on Monday for the final game of the back-and-forth series.

Tim Duncan logged 20 points, a game-high 15 boards and six assists for San Antonio, which shot 11-of-21 from behind the arc in the win. Tony Parker and Ime Udoka chipped in 15 and 13 points, respectively, for the victors.

NewsChannel 8 myTAKE - What's Your Opinion? Chris Paul had his typical 21-point, eight-assist, six-rebound performance, but the Hornets nailed just 2-of-9 from three-point land and connected on just 41.2 percent from the floor in the setback.

David West was held to 10 points on 4-of-14 shooting and left early in the fourth quarter after re-injuring his back due to a Robert Horry pick. Tyson Chandler, who came into the game nursing a left foot injury, added 14 points for New Orleans, which is looking to win its first second-round postseason series in franchise history.

A Chandler alley-oop from Paul gave the Hornets an early 17-15 edge, but it would prove the last the Hornets sniffed a lead the rest of the way. The Spurs' rattled off 11 consecutive points capped by two Udoka field goals to give the veteran club early breathing room.

San Antonio shot 15-of-21 from the field in the opening frame, as New Orleans crawled back from a 36-24 deficit to make it a five-point game with 4 1/2 minutes to play in the half.

Each time the Hornets made it close, though, Ginobili came through with a three-ball. He drained three in the second to push the home team ahead, 58-51 at the break.

Paul's running jump shot early in the third quarter again made it a five-point affair, but the Spurs responded with eight of the game's next 10 points. West exemplified the Hornets frustrations by getting whistled for a technical foul at the 8:44 mark.

The Spurs ended the third on another 7-0 run and held a commanding 78-63 lead heading to the final period.

Things would only get worse for the Hornets, who lost West three minutes into the fourth. The forward, who suffered a pinched nerve in his back in Game 5, was blindsided by a Horry pick. West was guarding his man off the dribble and Horry executed the pick behind the forward as he jumped for an attempted block. Horry was called for a foul on the play, but West fell to the floor and did not return. He will be evaluated on Friday.

Ginobili's back-to-back three-pointers to start the fourth-quarter all but sealed it, as the starters for both clubs found the bench to rest up for a winner-take-all Game 7 on Monday.

Game Notes

The Spurs have never won a playoff series when trailing, 3-2 (0-for-9)...San Antonio has captured 12 straight as the host in the postseason... The Spurs have won four of their last five games when facing elimination. They have won three straight Game 6s in the playoffs...The Hornets, who have never lost a playoff series when they win Games 1 and 2, are 1-4 on the road in this year's playoffs. They are 1-3 all-time in Game 6s in the postseason.



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