Third Quarter Is Pivotal In All 6 Previous GamesYou could only assume that what happened in the third quarter last night, as usual with these two teams, would decide whether Tim Duncan could pack for one more trip to the French Quarter or pack for a long vacation on Maui.
As San Antonio's Tony Parker helpfully observed: "The whole series, man. Third quarter looks like it's pivotal."
That third quarter was ugly," Hornets guard Chris Paul conceded.
"Ugly."
Fatal might be a better word after the pattern continued late Thursday. It was an unreservedly hideous third quarter, this time endured by the New Orleans Hornets, which helped San Antonio pull away for a 99-80 rout that, at the very least, takes Team Duncan's bid to win back-to-back titles for the first time through to Monday night.
In the intervening three days until the decider, expect to hear loads about how the playoff rookies from New Orleans have outscored the reigning champs by a tidy count of 93-46 at home in the third quarters of their three victories ... and how the Hornets completely buckled in the third quarter of a Game 6 that could have eliminated the Spurs.
As San Antonio's Tony Parker helpfully observed: "The whole series, man. Third quarter looks like it's pivotal."
That third quarter was ugly," Hornets guard Chris Paul conceded.
"Ugly."
Fatal might be a better word after the pattern continued late Thursday. It was an unreservedly hideous third quarter, this time endured by the New Orleans Hornets, which helped San Antonio pull away for a 99-80 rout that, at the very least, takes Team Duncan's bid to win back-to-back titles for the first time through to Monday night.
In the intervening three days until the decider, expect to hear loads about how the playoff rookies from New Orleans have outscored the reigning champs by a tidy count of 93-46 at home in the third quarters of their three victories ... and how the Hornets completely buckled in the third quarter of a Game 6 that could have eliminated the Spurs.
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