NBA Playoffs Rundown

San Antonio 91 New Orleans 82: You had to know that the Spurs were going to find a way to win a Game 7. Being down 0-2 in this series, they never panicked and rebounded to 4 of the last 5 games in this series. San Antonio's win on the road was only the 3rd road win for any team in the second round, the other two being Detroit in Game 4 against Orlando and the Lakers in Game 6 against Utah.

The story of this game offensively for the Spurs was their three point shooting. The Spurs combined as a team to hit 12 three-pointers, with 5 guys hitting 2 or more. Manu Ginobili led the way defensively with 26 points including 4 three-pointers. Tony Parker and Tim Duncan also made some big baskets in this one but neither shot particularly well from the floor. Parker finished with 17 points on 7 of 17 shooting and Duncan finished with 16 points on only 5 of 17 shooting. The Spurs also outrebounded the Hornets 51 to 42 with Tim Duncan leading the way with 14 rebounds.

For most of this game, the Spurs did an excellent job of challenging the outside shots of New Orleans and it showed as the Hornets were only 4 of 17 from deep. Peja Stojakovic really struggled in this game shooting only 3 of 11 from the floor and only 1 of 5 from three. Peja has been the key to New Orleans winning at home throughout the series but the Spurs really held him in check in this one.

Chris Paul and David West played well as usual but it wasn't enough for the Hornets. Paul finished with 18 points, 14 assists, 8 rebounds, and 5 steals before fouling out late in the 4th quarter. There's not much more you can ask of Paul in a Game 7 but it just wasn't enough for the Hornets. West helped out with 20 points and 9 rebounds. Tyson Chandler chipped in with 13 points and 15 rebounds. Jannero Pargo scored a flurry of buckets at the end of the game and he finished with 18 points.

Despite the strong play of Paul, West, Chandler, and Pargo, the Hornets just didn't get much out of anyone else. The Spurs shot the ball better from three-point land and they outrebounded the Hornets as well. Those were the main factors that led to the Spurs being able to pull out a victory in this Game 7. Almost everyone on the Spurs contributed something to the win, while the Hornets didn't get much outside of the four players mentioned above.