04/30/2008 - 17:18
Bring on the Spurs
by Andrew Mees
With New Orleans clinging to a dwindling lead Tuesday night, the NBA's best offensive rebounder made his best play of the season, and the result was a first round triumph.
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| On to the next round (Getty Images). |
In the final minute of Game 5, a barrage of Dallas threes had slashed a formidable Hornets lead to 97-94. A Mavericks win would force Game 6 and send the teams back to Dallas.
As the shot clock wound down, Chris Paul missed a jumper that hit the iron and went up for grabs.
Enter No. 6. Tyson would not be denied, fighting off two Mavericks in the post with his trademark determination, tapping the ball back out to Paul, and resetting the shot clock, effectively putting to bed any hopes of a Dallas comeback.
The best players make plays when the stakes are the highest. No one can doubt Tyson's status as an elite big man after Tuesday night's performance. His 10 points, 14 boards (seven offensive) and three blocks were the backbone of a 99-94 victory that closed out their first round series against Dallas, and sent New Orleans to the second round of the postseason for the first time since 2002.
FAST START
No. 6 came flying out of the gates in the early going, getting a put-back off his own miss and two thunderous dunks off assists from Paul. His six points and six boards in the first quarter helped set the furious tempo, and his 10 points and nine boards at the half had helped give the Hornets a comfortable lead.
Ty's big night came as no surprise to Jim Eichenhofer of the Big Easy Buzz Blog:
"He hasn't had many stretches of three straight quiet games, so it was no surprise that he responded Tuesday with a 10-point, 14-rebound outing."
The San Antonio Spurs outlasted the Phoenix Suns late Tuesday night to close out their first round series, and will be the Hornets opponent in the second round.
LUCKY NUMBER SEVEN
Ty's seven offensive rebounds tied the Hornets' franchise record for offensive boards in a playoff game, a feat he matched one other time in the series against the Mavericks.
NEXT UP
Game 1 of the Hornets' second round series against the Spurs is set for Saturday night at New Orleans Arena. You can catch the game on TNT.
RELATED STORIES
Paul's Triple-Double Helps Hornets Oust Mavs (Associated Press, April 29, 2008)
http://www.nba.com/games/20080429/DALNOH/recap.html/
Game 5 Recap: Hornets 99, Mavericks 94 (Big Easy Buzz Blog, April 29, 2008)
http://neworleanshornetsblog.blogspot.com/
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