Game 29 vs. Milwaukee: Bucks 114, Spurs 107
Record: 21-8 Last 10: 8-2
Michael Redd had 36 points and Mo Williams had 23 against the Spurs tonight. Manu Ginobili and Brent Barry missed the game because of a stomach flu. Even so, this is a game the Spurs could have won.
What is stomach flu? I can’t recall ever being told by a doctor that I had “stomach flu,” or hearing that anyone I know had it, but it seems a pretty common occurrence in the NBA.
It says here that “the virus can be spread by direct contact with an infected person (for example, kissing or shaking hands) or by sharing food, drink, or eating utensils.” OK, Manu and Brent, where did you eat on Christmas Day? Please don’t tell me it was here.
Even without Ginobili and Barry, the Spurs led by 4 at the end of three periods, led by 1 with 6 minutes to play, and were within a basket with 2:30 left. Horry, Bowen and Parker all committed turnovers in the 4th. The Spurs missed 7 free throws, while the Bucks missed just one. Eric Williams had a nice night, shooting 4 of 9 from behind the arc.
Bottom line: the Spurs could have won this game. Maybe ESPN is right — the Spurs are just cruising right now.
In unrelated news, James Brown and Gerald Ford have recently passed away. One gave us soul music and the other gave us Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney in the Executive Branch.
With so much at stake, you would think the Spurs players would all get their flu shots!