| Parker and Spurs spin Cavs, take 2-0 lead |
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| Written by Admin |
| Sunday, 10 June 2007 18:21 |
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EDS: WILL be UPDATED with quotes. AP Photos By ELIZABETH WHITE Associated Press Writer SAN ANTONIO (AP) -Tony Parker knew Cleveland would crowd the lane - the Cavaliers had been talking about keeping him out of the paint since he torched them in Game 1. What the Cavaliers apparently didn't count on is that the quick kid from Paris would have no problem kicking it into a higher gear to spin and swerve around the stunned Cavs for 30 points in the San Antonio Spurs' 103-92 victory Sunday night. With Parker leading the way, the Spurs have taken a 2-0 lead in the NBA finals and are halfway to their fourth championship. Parker was a key for the Spurs all game. When the Cavs got hot to start the fourth quarter and closed within nine points after having trailed by as many as 29, it was Parker's spinning layup that ended Cleveland's 22-4 run. His next basket bumped the Spurs' lead back up to a 10. Early on, Parker showed he was determined to get to the rim. Heading down court just 4 1/2 minutes into the game, Parker twirled around a defender, then continued on to the basket for a layup to give the Spurs a 10-point lead. In the second quarter, as the Spurs really took control, he slipped past both Larry Hughes and LeBron James to open up a 45-26 lead. But Parker didn't just hurt Cleveland near the basket. He hit his fourth 3 of these playoffs with 6:11 left in the third to give the Spurs a 71-46 lead. And Parker was joined again by the other members of the Spurs' top-scoring triumvirate. The usually defensive-minded Spurs went on the offense Sunday as Tim Duncan had 23 points and Manu Ginobili had 25, including a crucial four-point play. He hit four 3-pointers and all 11 of his foul shots. The 25-year-old Parker had 27 points and seven assists Thursday in the Spurs' 85-76 Game 1 win. After that loss, the Cavs said they were planning to give the acrobatic Parker a bigger challenge on his way to the basket. But Parker, who went 13-of-20 from the field, didn't seemed fazed Sunday. And uncharacteristic of the stoic Spurs, he even showed a bit of emotion after some of his shots dropped in after dancing on the rim for a few seconds. |
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