Bobcats Top Spurs In Rocky Mountain Action

SALT LAKE CITY, July 17 -- The Charlotte Bobcats evened their record in the Rocky Mountain Revue at 1-1 with a 74-61 win over San Antonio on Saturday afternoon. Charlotte improved to 6-1 in summer league play at the Rocky Mountain Revue and Minnesota Summer League.

“The effort was there today and we came out with a whole new attitude. We were aggressive and physical today and that’s how we want to be,” said John-Blair Bickerstaff, the team’s coach for the game. “It was nice to see Jason Kapono hit shots today. That’s what he does and he’s starting to get in the flow now.”

Kapono finished with a game-high 21 points on 8-13 from the field and 5-5 at the foul line and Maurice Carter added 17 points on 7-10 from the field. Loren Woods scored 12 points and posted team highs of seven rebounds and four steals and Melvin Ely scored 10 points.

“I felt confident today and I decided not to overthink things too much,” Kapono said. “The coaching staff here has stressed for me to play to my strengths and I think that was certainly the case today.”

Charlotte scored the game’s first six points and increased its lead to 16-8. San Antonio stormed back to move within 18-17, but Carter scored on a running layup at the first quarter buzzer to give the Bobcats a 20-17 lead. Carter and Jason Kapono each tallied six points in the opening quarter.

The Spurs scored the first seven points in the second period to claim their first lead of the game and held a 26-23 advantage. Charlotte responded with 11-straight points to move back ahead behind eight points by Kapono. Kapono scored 15 points in the opening half as the Bobcats led 36-29 at intermission. Charlotte held San Antonio to 5-20 (.250) shooting from the field in the second quarter.

Charlotte maintained control in the third quarter and built its lead to as many as 12 points at 55-43. The Bobcats took a 56-47 lead into the fourth quarter as Kapono and Carter each tallied six points in the third quarter.

The Bobcats took a 13-point lead at 63-50 midway through the third period for their biggest lead of the game. The Spurs closed within 67-61 but the Bobcats scored seven-straight points to thwart the run and close out the game.

Charlotte scored 27 points off 23 turnover by the Spurs for the game and had a 17-6 advantage in second chance points.