Norman Vergara - AHN Sports Writer
San Antonio, TX (AHN) - San Antonio dictated the pace from start to finish and Tim Duncan and Tony Parker played the game to perfection as the Spurs knotted their best-of-seven series at two apiece with a 100-80 rout of New Orleans on Sunday at the AT&T Center.
With the Spurs finding comfort in their own confines, Duncan and Parker thrived to the same tune, combining for 43 points on 18-of-25 shooting. Neither player was slowed down, as the Hornets had earlier planned, and the Spurs shot a torrid 51 percent on their home floor to send the series back to New Orleans tied at 2-2.
San Antonio took control as the game progressed and the Spurs made mincemeat of the Hornets' starters, limiting everyone not named Chris Paul to just 9-of-32 from the field. Paul finished 10-of-16 and had 23 points as New Orleans struggled to 40 percent shooting all game.
After speculations on their age and motivation to defend their titles hovered following two lopsided defeats at New Orleans, the Spurs have now bounced back with rousing wins at home. Game 5 is set Tuesday night with Game 6 back in Texas on Thursday.
Manu Ginobili added 15 points and eight assists while Ime Udoka and Michael Finley had 15 and 12, respectively, off the bench. The Spurs outrebounded the Hornets 45-36 and had 15 more assists than their foes.
David West was the only other New Orlenas starter who finished in double figures with 10 points. He struggled on 4-of-15 shooting but had five rebounds, two assists and three blocked shots in 34 minutes of action. Morris Peterson and Peja Stojakovic combined for 13 points while Tyson Chandler had more fouls (five) than points (two) in 24 minutes.
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