NBA Finals Game 5
(1) New Orleans at (3) Charlotte
Charlotte leads 3-1
CHA:NO
92:93 OVR
87:90 OFF
95:94 DEF
I could have sworn other rounds were 2-2-1-1-1, but it looks like the finals are 2-3-2 and we get a chance to close out an NBA Chapionship at home!
First Quarter
New Orleans 38
Charlotte 25
Oh boy. Felton picks up foul #2 with 9 minutes to go in the quarter, Mayo picks up his 2nd with 5 minutes to go, JR Smith hits a bunch of deep shots and we are off to a terrible start. JR Smith with 14 for the Hornets, Paul 4 points/4 assists, a bunch of others with 4 points as well. Mayo has 8, Padgett 6 for us. Gerald Wallace 5. New Orleans gets to the line 9 times in the quarter as a result of our foul trouble.
Second Quarter
New Orleans 60
Charlotte 53
Felton foul #3 45 seconds in. Mayo charging foul 3 minutes in. Its 40-31 when Mayo sits. Sparks puts up a very solid 10 point/5 board half, Wallace scores 9 and Padgett 14 to really pick us up with the depth problems we suffer with the foul problems. JR Smith with 14,Dailey 11, and Josh Smith 8. Pau with 8 points/6 assists. Wallace and Sparks have given us a huge lift and we're right there if we can keep Mayo and Felton from picking up their 4th fouls.
Third Quarter
Holy Christ really? 11:53 to go in the 3rd and Paul drives right by Felton and Felton picks up foul #4. 9:55 to go in the quarter, Mayo fouls Paul for his 4th.
New Orleans 90
Charlotte 74
New Orleans gets very balanced scoring. JR Smith 18, Josh Smith 16, Paul 16 points/9 assists, Dailey 11 points. On our side Padgett is up to 19, Wallace 11, Sparks 10. Swanson and Mayo 8 each. Mayo hasn't scored since the first quarter, and Padgett/Wallace/Sparks did not do enough to carry us in the 3rd. Mayo and Felton have 4 fouls each. Mayo has played 15 minutes, Felton 8 minutes this game.
Fourth Quarter
We open with Felton/Mayo/Wallace/Padgett/Arthur.
10:30 to go - I bring Sparks in, entire starting lineup is in. We're letting them pull further away though, its 95-76.
10:20 to go - Mayo with a complete horseshit charge. The refs are not letting us come back here!
7:45 to go - Felton/Henderson/Wallace/Fisher/Chandler as we need to rest some guys. 97-80... not looking good at all here.
4:10 to go - Starters back in, 103-88. That was CPU subs that sat Mayo earlier heh, he hasn't played enough to be tired!
3:30 to go - OJ Mayo called for his THIRD charge of the game and he fouls out.
New Orleans 113
Charlotte 94
We never got closer than 15 in the final quarter.
Padgett: 23 points/5 boards/2 blocks
Wallace: 15 points
Sparks: 12 points/10 boards
Felton: 11 points
Mayo: 8 points
Swanson: 8 points/5 assists
Henderson: 8 points
Chadler: 4 points
Lindsey: 3 points
Fisher: 2 points
Mayo and Felton each logged 20 minutes. Mayo scored 8 of our first ~12 points and then did not score again all game. Paul has his best game of the series with 22 points and 10 assists. Josh Smith 21, JR Smith 18. Just a disgusting performance as we're forced to go back to New Orleans to win a championship. Swanson can play, I can deal with Felton being off the court, but we need Mayo to win, clearly.
We still lead 3-2 and need to find a way to win one last game in New Orleans.
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