LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Defending National Basketball Association champions San Antonio struggled to sleep early on Tuesday after advancing to the Western Conference playoff finals because their aeroplane was grounded.
The Spurs' charter flight from New Orleans, where San Antonio eliminated the Hornets in game seven of their best-of-seven series, was unable to leave for Los Angeles as scheduled.
The Spurs defeated the Hornets 91-82 but mechanical problems with the plane kept the team stuck on the airport runway for five hours, a Spurs spokesman said.
After lifting off early Tuesday morning and finally reaching Los Angeles late Tuesday morning, the Spurs opted not to practice, instead hoping to rest before resuming their title defense here on Wednesday.
The Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers will play game one of the best-of-seven Western Conference final here on Wednesday. The winner will face either the Boston Celtics or Detroit Pistons in next month's NBA Finals.
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