Twenty-five years in the past on June 18th, the San Antonio Spurs took a 2-0 lead within the NBA Finals in opposition to the New York Knicks with an 80-67 victory on the Alamodome, marking one of many lowest scoring matches in championship spherical historical past. It was additionally their record-setting twelfth straight Playoff win. Offenses had been discombobulated for each outfits that evening, however the hosts’ protection initiated a block get together (9) all through and suffocated the visitors within the fourth quarter.
Patrick Ewing didn’t play for the Knicks due to an Achilles harm, which was a devastating blow as a result of he generated probably the most of their double groups.
After the sport, the San Antonio Categorical-Information quoted Tim Duncan saying, “It was a really ugly win. There’s no technique to conceal that. However we’re finest when it’s ugly. We’re not a really fairly crew, and we by no means declare to be.”
In act one, Duncan opened the offense, hitting a turnaround shot over Larry Johnson at shut vary. Sean Elliot, Mario Elie, and David Robinson adopted up with strikes to the basket and journeys to the road, however the Spurs’ inside protections had the Knicks double-clutching and second-guessing themselves.
Duncan and Robinson shut down the lane, blocking two rim assaults by Latrell Sprewell and Chris Dudley’s under-the-basket layup within the first jiffy. TD additionally overwhelmed Johnson earlier than the body ended, stopping him on a layup on the dunker spot.
Via 12 minutes, the Spurs led 20-15 on the scoreboard, changing 40 % of makes an attempt in distinction to the Knicks’ 25.9 %.
In act two, the Spurs’ technique of clogging the lane to trouble Sprewell and doubling the submit permitted seven of 20 pictures, two of which had been despatched again by Robinson coming in as helper and a trailer on the break.
But the guests stayed within the recreation in the course of the first half as a result of their defensive depth was as sharp because the Spurs’, contesting pictures on time, disrupting passes, and getting the ball out of Duncan’s fingers. But on the finish of the half, the Knicks left Duncan in single protection with Johnson within the submit, leading to a straightforward hook, and he scored shortly in opposition to Sprewell, low on the alternative facet earlier than a double might arrive.
At halftime, the Spurs had been forward 39-34 on the board however down 4 on the glass and had dedicated three additional turnovers. The starters had logged 14 of 29 makes an attempt, however the bench was thwarted to certainly one of 5 makes.
Sprewell, the person who the Spurs admired earlier than choke gate (on P.J. Carlesimo), was contained to a dozen factors on 25 % accuracy. However Allan Houston had 11 market on 5 of 10 tries.
Subsequently, each groups had their offenses slowed down.
The Knicks opened and progressed in act three, doubling Duncan to get the ball out of fingers, inflicting a number of turnovers and forcing one leap ball. Regardless of the stress, Duncan tallied two discipline targets, scoring within the paint.
Robinson countered, sagging off Dudley, making a four-on-five state of affairs for the Knicks. And the Spurs defended choose and roll with the swap and drop protection. Duncan despatched again Charlie Ward’s layup on the cup because the low man.
Act 4 began with the Spurs up 54-49.
4 of San Antonio’s 17 third-quarter factors got here within the final two-and-a-half seconds, as Elliot scored on a baseline drive with contact, and Duncan recovered his missed free throw for a putback.
Within the fourth body, the Knicks blitzed some pick-and-roll units however did not defend with out fouling on San Antonio’s drives to the rim. However the Spurs did not capitalize, leaving 5 of 18 charity pictures unclaimed.
Regardless of misses, the excessive free-throw quantity allowed the Spurs to arrange their protection, stopping open-court alternatives. Moreover, the Spurs locked up the Knicks, stopping zero factors for five-and-a-half minutes to take management of the night. In that span, the group’s defensive efficiency compelled 4 turnovers, together with two shot clock violations.
The Spurs received Recreation 2, 80-67, taking pictures 42.9 % from the sector to the Knicks’ 32.9 %. The scoring common was 91.6 factors per recreation in 1998-1999.
Duncan completed with 25 factors on 9 of 17 makes an attempt, with 15 rebounds, three assists, 4 blocks and 4 turnovers. And Robinson tallied 16 marks on 62.5 % taking pictures, with 11 boards, 4 helpings and 5 denials.
Robinson dealt with the on-court NBC interview as each groups walked off the ground. He mentioned, “It was ugly… The protection actually saved us in there tonight.”
