Ow! Was that a Spur?

Rather a lot of them, actually; San Antonio shot an amazing/appalling 62.9 percent from the floor and dispatched the Hornets, 112-77, though the Bees actually outrebounded the Spurs, 40-32.

It didn't start out badly — the Hornets were up 12-9 four and a half minutes in — but it was all San Antonio the rest of the quarter, ending with the Spurs up 30-20. The Bees rattled off eight consecutive points to start the second, and were down only 12 at the half, but that was it; after 28 points in the second quarter, they would manage only 29 in the third and fourth, including a final 3:45 with no points at all.

A couple of bright spots: the Hornets made all their free throws (a lowish 10; only one Spur got as many as three personal fouls) and half their trey attempts. But field-goal shooting was a meager 31 of 82 for 37.8 percent. And the number that really seems to sum up this game: only 11 assists in all, versus 32 for the Spurs.

Rain or shine, though, Chris Paul gets his points: he got 20 to lead all scorers. Rasual Butler is still shooting well: he made 6 of 8, including two 3-balls. Tyson Chandler hauled down 9 boards, more than anyone else. But there were too many missed shots. (Devin Brown got his first points of the season, on 1-of-7 shooting and 2-of-2 at the line.)

The Mavericks had the night off, so San Antonio takes over the top spot in the conference at 21-7. The Grizzlies, mired in the Southwest cellar, lost again (by the same 100-97 score as last night, this time to Utah), which means the Hornets will remain six games ahead of them.

It's another run to the West Coast next week, to meet the Sonics (Tuesday) and the Blazers (Wednesday). The Nuggets, without J. R. Smith and Carmelo Anthony but with Allen Iverson, will be at the Ford next Friday.

Posted at 9:52 PM to Net Proceeds