Spurs pummel Hawks in 103-88 victory
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-11-14 10:50

Tim Duncan scored 26 points and grabbed 18 rebounds and Bruce Bowen scored a career-high 22 points to help the San Antonio Spurs defeat the Atlanta Hawks 103-88 on Saturday night.

San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) goes to the net against Atlanta Hawks center Predrag Drobnjak (14) of Serbia-Montenegro, during the first quarter, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2004 at Philips Arena in Atlanta. [Reuters]

After the Spurs built a 24-point lead, 65-41, midway through the third quarter, the Hawks scored 11 straight points spanning the third and fourth quarters. The rally was capped by Royal Ivey's three-point play with 9:44 left to play, cutting the Spurs' lead to 12 points.

A 3-pointer by Antoine Walker with 8:55 left pulled the Hawks to within 10 points at 81-71, but Beno Udrih answered with a 3-pointer for the Spurs.

Walker led the Hawks with 23 points, including four 3-pointers in the final quarter. Atlanta's only other scorer in double figures was Al Harrington with 10 points.

Spurs center Rasho Nesterovic had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

The Hawks, who set a team record with only 25 second-half points Tuesday night against Cleveland, were back in a scoring rut early against the Spurs. Atlanta trailed 44-35 at halftime after shooting 28 percent in over the first two quarters.

The Spurs also were sluggish early.

Manu Ginobili, who scored 29 points in San Antonio's win over Miami Friday night, was scoreless until converting a three-point play with 9:16 left in the third quarter. Ginobili finished with nine points and nine assists.

While the Hawks' shooting woes continued in the second half — they made only 2 of their first 10 shots — the Spurs pulled away. Bowen hit three 3-pointers as San Antonio built an insurmountable lead.

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