Antonio McDyess tipped in a missed shot by Tim Duncan just ahead of the final buzzer to give the San Antonio Spurs an 89-88 victory over the reigning NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.
The Spurs improved to an NBA-best 41-8, matching the fifth-best start in NBA history through so many games. The only four clubs with better starts all went on to win the NBA crown that season.
The Lakers trailed 87-86 with the ball in the closing seconds when Spanish forward Pau Gasol was fouled with 22 seconds remaining. The Spaniard sank both shots from the line to seize an 88-87 lead.
Photo: REUTERS
San Antonio’s Manu Ginobili missed a 3-pointer but McDyess grabbed the rebound and moments later Tony Parker drove the lane, only to have his shot bounce off both sides of the rim and out.
But the ball went out of bounds off the Lakers to give the Spurs a final chance with 5.6 seconds to play. Duncan fired a jumper over Gasol and McDyess leaped high to deflect the miss back inside the hoop as the buzzer sounded.
Parker scored a game-high 21 points on 9-of-17 shooting while Richard Jefferson added 18 points and Ginobili contributed 14 points for the Spurs, who also had eight points and eight rebounds from McDyess.
Parker scored 14 points in the second quarter while McDyess scored six of his eight in the final quarter.
Gasol scored 19 points and Kobe Bryant had 16 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds in a losing cause to power the Lakers, who fell to 34-16 and in second in the Western Conference behind the Spurs.
Lamar Odom scored 16 points off the bench for the Lakers, who also had 13 points from Ron Artest.
The Spurs had matched their biggest lead at 79-71 with 7:45 to play but Bryant ignited a Laker comeback hitting a jumper and making a long pass off a turnover to Artest for a fast break layup to pull the Lakers within 79-78.
San Antonio answered with a 3-pointer from Jefferson and a 3-point play from Parker sandwiched around a Gasol tip-in for an 85-80 lead.
Odom pulled the Lakers within 85-82 and Gasol added a free throw, but Duncan hit a jumper over Gasol to stretch the Spurs’ lead back to 87-83, only to have Odom sink a 3-pointer with one minute to play, setting up the final drama.
Heat 104, Magic 100
In Orlando, LeBron James had 51 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists to lead Miami past Orlando.
It was a season high for James and the fifth-highest total of his career.
The Heat exploited a thin Magic front line that was missing injured starting forward Brandon Bass. They led by as many as 23 points. Dwyane Wade added 15 points.
Jameer Nelson led Orlando with 22 points. Dwight Howard had 17 points and 16 rebounds, but only one point after half-time and was just 3 for 13 at the free throw line.
Warriors 100, Bucks 94
In Oakland, Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry combined for 15 points in the final 4:38 to lift Golden State over Milwaukee.
Ellis hit a jumper with 17 seconds left to put the Warriors up by four. He scored 24 points to lead Golden State. Curry had 16 points.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely