'HARDWOOD CLASSICS' NIGHT
STARTING LINEUPS
Overall Team Ratings: HOU 78; SA 89
Intervention: OT (subs/timeouts only)
Chow's Scouting Report - (SA)
Strategy adj - T-Mac to SG (Playmaker); Gerald Green to starting SF
GAME RECAP
The
Houston Rockets faced the daunting task of taking on a red-hot
San Antonio Spurs team for the third time in two weeks at the
SBC Center. The Spurs entered the match on a 7-game win streak (2 at the demise of Houston) and the league's best record of 12-3 while the Rockets were coming off a sound beatdown at the hands of the
Phoenix Suns only days earlier
Unsuccessful in their previous two meetings, Rocket's Head Coach
Phil Jackson looked to change things up from the opening tip, shifting All-Star
Tracy McGrady to Shooting Guard and giving swingman
Gerald Green his first Rockets start at Small Forward
Jackson's move proved successful, allowing McGrady to free-roam and create plays while the younger Green attacked the basket and attempted to tire Spurs defensive specialist,
Bruce Bowen, with constant motion
The Rockets took a 73-72 lead going into the 4th and opened with an early run led by Center,
Yao Ming, extending their lead to 85-79 at the 5:30 mark
But as so often is the case, San Antonio would rally under former MVP,
Tim Duncan, and give the Spurs a 98-96 lead with 18.4 left in regulation. Rockets Point Guard,
Luke Ridnour, stepped up to hit the clutch jumper for the tie and Duncan failed to convert on the last possession of regulation, forcing overtime
In overtime, the two teams continued to battle back and forth going into the final minutes. An
acrobatic circus shot by
Tony Parker plus the foul gave San Antonio a 105-104 with 1:19 left; but after a Rockets timeout, Luke Ridnour would hit another clutch shot - this time a corner trey - to give the Rockets a 107-105 lead with 1:01 left in the game. Ridnour would finish with 12 points, 5 assists and 2 steals while Parker ended a solid night with 23 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists
With less than a minute left in OT, Duncan would convert again for the Spurs forcing the 107-107 tie. A determined McGrady appeared to drive home the game-winning dagger,
connecting from way downtown over Spurs defender, Manu Ginobili, giving the Rockets a 110-107 lead with 36.1 on the clock. But the Spurs refused to go away and after Duncan failed shot attempt, Ginobili would force a Houston turnover off a huge steal to stop the clock with 17.0 seconds left and possession
Down three, Spurs Coach
Gregg Popovich, would issue a set play
executed to perfection, resulting in a Ginobili trey to once again tie the game at 110-110 with 13.6 seconds left in the game
With the
possibility of a second overtime looming, a
huge mental blunder by Spurs defensive specialist, Bruce Bowen, who fouled Gerald Green on a desperation three-point attempt, stopped the clock with 2.8 seconds and sent Green to the line for 3 free throws
Green caused some anxious moments on the Rockets bench by missing his first attempt, but calmly drained the next two for a 112-110 advantage. With no timeouts remaining, a missed desperation half-court heave by the Spurs sealed the Rockets victory. Given the offensive 'Green' light for the night, Gerald finished with a season-high 26 points and collect 2 rebounds and 2 steals
"We finally got 'em," said McGrady following the game.
"it took overtime to do it, but we got it done; huge win for our ball club." McGrady capped the night with a team-high 27 points while collecting 5 boards while teammate Yao Ming bounced back from a sub-par game against the Suns, ending with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks
"They came out with a lot of fire tonight," said Spurs' Tim Duncan.
"I thought our execution was great most of the game but Bruce got hit with a tough call at the end; not much you can do about it. That's the basketball." Duncan ended another brilliant performance with 28 points, 15 rebounds and 3 blocks
Notes:
1st team
Power Rankings are in;
The Houston Rockets put a finish to the month of November tomorrow night back at the Toyota Center. They'll go from playing the team with the NBA's best record to playing a team with the league's second worst record, as
Phil Jackson is reunited with
Kobe Byrant and his former team, the
Los Angeles Lakers featuring new head coach,
Rick Adelman
BOX SCORE
HOU 112
SA 110 Final OT
Players at the Half
Player of the Game
Gerald Green serving up vicious a facial
PHOTOS
Green off the steal to a breakaway dunk
No foul? Are you blind?
Yao gets revenge
Jackson congratulates Green after his free throws seal the win