3. 2016 NW DIV CHAMP OKC THUNDER v. 11. 1992 MW DIV CHAMP UTAH JAZZ
Thunder: 55-27, NW Div Champ, 2nd Off, 13th Def
d. Mavs West 1st Round 4-1
d. Spurs West Semis 4-2
Lost West Finals Warriors 4-3
#34 overall seed
d. '56 Warriors (Durant-2 PotG)
Coach: Billy Donovan, Mo Cheeks is an assistant.
Starters
C Enes Kanter (23) 12.7 PPG 24 PER 8.1 Win Shares 1.4 VORP
F Serge Ibaka (26) 12.6 13.9 5.5 .8
F Kevin Durant (27, Texas) 28.2 28.2 14.5 7.8
G Russell Westbrook (27, UCLA) 23.5 27.6 14 6.8
G Andre Roberson (24, Colorado) 4.8 10.2 3.4 1
Rotation Reserves
C Steven Adams (22, Pitt) 8 15.5 6.5 1.1
F Nick Collison (35, Kansas) 2.1 7.7 .8 -.2
F Dion Waiters (24, Syracuse) 9.8 9.4 2.1 -.4
G Cameron Payne (21, Murray St) 5 12.9 1.4 .2
G Anthony Morrow (30, Georgia Tech) 5.6 10.7 1.9 .2
Leaders: Westbrook (2nd Assists, 2nd Steals, 2nd Asts/Gm, 5th Steals/Gm, 3rd PER, 2nd Asst %, 3rd Win Shares, 5th Win Shares/48, 4th VORP) 1st Team All NBA
Ibaka (3rd Blocks
Durant (3rd Pts, 3rd PPG, 2nd PER, 2nd True Shooting, 2nd Win Shares, 3rd Win Shares/48, 2nd +/-, 2nd VORP, 2nd Team All NBA
Kanter (4th Reb %, 4th Off Rating
Adams (3rd Off Rating
2nd best Offense in 2016; Durant and Westbrook are both 27, both top 5 players in the NBA. 23 year old Kanter adds 20+ PER.
Jazz: 55-27, 1st MW Div, 4th Off, 7th Def
d. Clips West First Round 3-2
d. Sonics West Semis 4-1
Lost Blazers West Finals 4-2
#162 overall seed
d. '73 Celtics (2-1, Malone 2 PotG)
Coach: Jerry Sloan
Starters
C Mark Eaton (35, UCLA) 3.3 9.1 3.8 .7
F Karl Malone (28, LA Tech) 28 25.4 15.1 5.9
F Tyrone Corbin (29, DePaul) 9 13.6 5.4 1.2
G John Stockton (29, Gonzaga) 15.8 22.8 13.4 8.1 VORP
G Jeff Malone (30, Mississippi St) 20.2 15.1 6.6 .3
Rotation Reserves
C Mike Brown (28, George Washington) 7.7PPG 12.3 PER 3.7 Win Shares -.1
F Thurl Bailey 30-NC St 9.4 12 .5 0
F David Benoit (23, Alabama) 5.6 12.1 2 -.3
G Eric Mudock (23, Providence) 4.1 13.6 .6 .2
G Blue Edwards (26, E.Carolina) 12.6 13.7 5.2 1.1
Leaders: Malone (4th Def Rebounds, 2nd Pts, 2nd PPG, 3rd PER, 2nd Win Shares, 4th WS/48, 1st Team All NBA
Stockton (1st Assists, 1st Steals, 1st Asst/Gm, 3rd Steals/Gm, 1st Asst%, 3rd Steal%, 3rd +/-, 2nd VORP, 2nd Team All NBA.
JMalone (5th FT%)
Eaton (3rd Block%)
29 year old Stockton and 28 year old Malone lead the Jazz; both with PER over 20 and double digit Win Shares; Malone's a top 5 player in the league.
Matchup:
C Kanter (Jazz)
F Malone (Jazz)
F Durant (OKC)
G Westbrook (OKC)
G Malone (Jazz)
Bench: Thunder
Gm 1
1 Qtr
9 Thunder 6 Jazz 6
Thunder Roberson(3) Ibaka(3)
Jazz JMalone, JMalone, Corbin
6 Thunder 12 Jazz 8
Thunder Westbrook(3) Westbrook(1) Durant
Jazz Corbin
Bottom half of Region 2 is underway; 4 teams fighting for the spot in the regional final opposite the '19 Rockets.
3 Thunder 21 Jazz 18
Thunder Westbrook, Kanter, Morrow(3) Morrow
Jazz JMalone Stockton, Malone, Malone, Stockton
1 Score Thunder 28 Jazz 25
Thunder Westbrook, Durant(3) Ibaka
Jazz Edwards, Edwards, Bailey(1) Brown
OKC's the top remaining seed in region 2 but they have to beat Stockton/Malone in their prime to advance.
2 Qtr
9 Thunder 40 Jazz 33
Thunder Adams, Waiters, Adams, Durant, Kanter, Durant
Jazz Benoit, Edwards, Brown, Stockton
6 Thunder 44 Jazz 38
Thunder Durant(3) Kanter(1)
Jazz JMalone(3) Malone
7 for KD to open the quarter he and Westbrook also in their primes.
3 Thunder 54 Jazz 44
Thunder Durant, Durant, Westbrook, Westbrook, Payne
Jazz Malone, Malone, Brown
H Score Thunder 62 Jazz 48
Thunder Ibaka, Kanter, Kanter, Kanter,
Jazz Benoit, JMalone
OKC stretching it out now.
3Qtr
9 Thunder 72 Jazz 59
Thunder Durant(3) Durant, Durant, Durant(3)
Jazz Corbin, Stockton(3) Malone, Malone, JMalone
6 Thunder 77 Jazz 61
Thunder Westbrook, Waiters(3)
Jazz Corbin
16 point OKC lead; KD scores the first ten of the half for the Thunder.
3 Thunder 84 Jazz 67
Thunder Waiters, Durant(3) Durant
Jazz Malone, Edwards, Edwards
3 Score Thunder 93 Jazz 77
Thunder Durant, Westbrook, Westbrook, Durant(3)
Jazz Malone, Malone, Corbin, Edwards, Eaton
Kevin Durant with 20 third quarter points.
4 Qtr
9 Thunder 102 Jazz 85
Thunder Westbrook, Morrow(3) Westbrook, Durant
Jazz Brown, Corbin, Edwards, Malone
6 Thunder 110 Jazz 93
Thunder Durant(3) Durant(3) Westbrook
Jazz JMalone, JMalone, Corbin, Malone
8 more for Durant. 28 second half points.
3 Thunder 117 Jazz 97
Thunder Kanter, Ibaka, Ibaka, McGary(1)
Jazz Brown, JMalone
F Score Thunder 121 Jazz 103
Thunder McGary, Singler
Jazz Benoit, Rudd, Thornton
OKC just way too much for Utah in this one.
Durant: 44 pts/8 boards/8 assists-Player of the Game
Westbrook: 24 pts/11 assists/8 boards
Kanter: 13 pts/11 boards
Ibaka: 11 pts
Malone: 24 pts/11 boards
JMalone: 19 pts
Corbin: 14 pts
Stockton: 9 pts/11 assists
Edwards: 14 pts
Brown: 10 pts/6 boards
Gm 2
1 Qtr
9 Jazz 12 Thunder 7
Jazz JMalone, JMalone, Malone, Stockton, Stockton, Malone
Thunder Westbrook, Westbrook(3) Kanter
6 Jazz 22 Thunder 11
Jazz Malone, Eaton, JMalone, Malone, JMalone
Thunder Kanter, Westbrook
Utah needs a win at home to stay alive and they get off to a roaring start; 8 for both Malones.
3 Jazz 26 Thunder 20
Jazz Malone, Corbin
Thunder Durant, Kanter, Durant(3) Kanter
1 Score Jazz 36 Thunder 26
Jazz Malone, Corbin, JMalone, Malone, JMalone
Thunder Durant, ibaka, Kanter
16 first quarter points for the Mailman.
2 Qtr
9 Jazz 41 Thunder 30
Jazz Brown(1) Stockton, Edwards
Thunder Adams, Payne
6 Jazz 46 Thunder 35
Jazz Edwards(3) Edwards
Thunder Waiters, Payne(1) Ibaka
Blue Edwards with 7 to open the 2nd.
3 Jazz 60 Thunder 45
Jazz Malone, Corbin, JMalone, JMalone, JMalone, JMalone, JMalone
Thunder Westbrook, Durant(3) Durant(3) Durant
H Score Jazz 68 Thunder 52
Jazz Edwards, Brown, JMalone, Edwards
Thunder Adams, Durant(3) Durant
13 in the last 6 for KD - but the Jazz are blowing out OKC.
3Qtr
9 Jazz 76 Thunder 58
Jazz Corbin, Brown, Edwards, Malone
Thunder Westbrook, Westbrook, Kanter
6 Jazz 80 Thunder 63
Jazz Malone, Malone
Thunder Kanter, Durant(1) Westbrook
The Mailman with another half dozen, we are probably headed back to OKC for the showdown.
3 Jazz 89 Thunder 71
Jazz Stockton, Malone, Benoit, Benoit, JMalone
Thunder Kanter, Kanter, Adams, Adams
3 Score Jazz 99 Thunder 81
Jazz Malone, Malone, Malone, JMalone, JMalone
Thunder Westbrook, Ibaka, Ibaka, Adams, Kanter
14 for the Mailman in the third - we'll see you in game 3.
4 Qtr
9 Jazz 103 Thunder 86
Jazz Bailey, JMalone
Thunder Westbrook, Westbrook(3)
6 Jazz 107 Thunder 90
Jazz Stockton, Malone
Thunder Kanter, Kanter
Utah easy in this one.
3 Jazz 112 Thunder 99
Jazz Edwards, Adams
Thunder Ibaka, Westbrook, Stockton(3) Morrow, Ibaka(1)
F Score Jazz 124 Thunder 112
Jazz Thornton, Murdock, Murdock, Corbin, Corbin, Corbin
Thunder Foye(3) Foye(3) Westbrook, Huestis, Durant(1) Westbrook
Inverse of game one - both home teams win and we head to game 3..
Malone: 30 pts/13 boards - Player of the Game
JMalone: 34 pts
Stockton: 13 pts/18 assists/4 steals
Corbin: 14 pts/13 boards
Edwards: 15 pts
Westbrook: 28 pts/11 assists/5 boards
Kanter: 24 pts/11 boards
Durant: 22 pts/5 boards/6 blocks
Ibaka: 11 pts/7 boards
Adams: 12 pts/6 boards
Gm
1 Qtr
9 Thunder 2 Jazz 2
Thunder Ibaka
Jazz JMalone
6 Thunder 9 Jazz 4
Thunder Kanter(3) Durant, Westbrook
Jazz Stockton
Winner moves on, loser goes home.
3 Thunder 21 Jazz 12
Thunder Roberson, Durant, Morrow, Morrow, Westbrook
Jazz JMalone, JMalone, JMalone, JMalone
1 Score Thunder 30 Jazz 18
Thunder Westbrook, Westbrook, Morrow(3) Adams
Jazz Benoit, Brown, Bailey
Nothing but blowouts so far in this series - and we might be looking at a third.
2 Qtr
9 Thunder 42 Jazz 22
Thunder Payne(3) Waiters(3) Waiters, Waiters, Adams
Jazz Bailey, Brown
6 Thunder 50 Jazz 31
Thunder Durant, Morrow(3) Durant, Adams
Jazz Stockton, Edwards, Corbin, Brown
Well, this is done.
3 Thunder 57 Jazz 40
Thunder Durant, Westbrook, Westbrook(3)
Jazz Corbin, Edwards, Edwards(3) Stockton
H Score Thunder 63 Jazz 48
Thunder Kanter, Kanter, Kanter
Jazz JMalone, JMalone, Eaton, Stockton
Jazz not able to get close.
3Qtr
9 Thunder 65 Jazz 50
Thunder Kanter
Jazz Edwards
6 Thunder 74 Jazz 57
Thunder Durant, Durant(3) Kanter, Ibaka
Jazz Malone, Eaton, Stockton(3)
Seeming inexorable march.
3 Thunder 79 Jazz 69
Thunder Ibaka(3) Adams
Jazz Malone, Brown(3) Stockton, Malone(3) Malone
3 Score Thunder 87 Jazz 73
Thunder Durant, Adams, Ibaka, Ibaka
Jazz Corbin, JMalone
Double digits the whole way.
4 Qtr
9 Thunder 98 Jazz 80
Thunder Adams, Kanter, Durant(3) Kanter, Westbrook
Jazz Edwards, Edwards(3) JMalone
6 Thunder 100 Jazz 84
Thunder Westbrook
Jazz Corbin, Malone
3 Thunder 107 Jazz 92
Thunder Westbrook(3) Westbrook, McGary
Jazz Murdock, Stockton, Brown, Thornton
F Score Thunder 111 Jazz 95
Thunder Singler(1) McGary(1) Mohammed
Jazz Crowder(3)
Just 11 points for the Mailman, Utah is sent packing.
Westbrook: 21 pts/16 boards/10 assists-Player of the Game
Kanter: 17 pts/15 boards
Durant: 20 pts/9 boards/6 assists
Ibaka: 11 pts/6 blocks
Adams: 12 pts/9 boards
Morrow: 12 pts
7. 2017 SW DIV CHAMP SA SPURS v. 15. 1991 PHOENIX SUNS
Spurs: 61-21, SW Div Champs, 9th in Off, 1st in Def
d. Grizzlies West First Round, 4-2
d. Rockets West Semis 4-0
Lost Warriors West Finals 4-0
#98 overall seed
d. '13 Nuggets (2-0, Kawhi 2 PotG)
Coach: Gregg Popovich
Starters
C Pau Gasol (36) 12.4 PPG 20.2 PER 6.4 Win Shares 2.5 VORP
F LaMarcus Aldridge (31, Texas) 17.3 18.6 7.2 1.7
F Kawhi Leonard (25, S Diego St) 25.5 27.6 13.6 7.1
G Patty Mills (28, St Marys) 9.5 15.2 5.1 1.6
G Manu Ginobli (39) 7.5 13.9 3 1.1
Rotation Reserves
C Dewayne Dedmon (27, USC) 5.1 16 5.2 .9
F David Lee (33, Florida) 7.3 18.5 5.7 1.4
G Kyle Anderson (23, UCLA) 3.4 12.5 2.7 1
G Tony Parker (34) 10.1 13 3 -.2
G Danny Green 29-UNC 7.3 10.1 3.4 1.3
Leaders: Leonard (3rd PER, 4th Win Shares, 3rd Win Shares/48, 2nd +/1, 3rd VORP, 1st Team All NBA
It's 25 year old Kawhi's Spurs; he's a top 5 player in the league, 36 year old Gasol also is 20+ PER,
Suns: 55-27, 3rd Pac Div, 3rd Off, 8th Def
Lost Jazz West 1st Rnd, 3-1
#226 overall seed
d. '00 Lakers (2-0, Chambers, KJ- PotG)
Coach: Cotton Fitzsimmons, Paul Westphal is an assistant
Starters
C Mark West (30, Old Dominion) 7.7 PPG 14.6 PER 6.5 Win Shares 1.5
F Tom Chambers (31, Utah) 19.9 16.2 5.4 .7
F Dan Majerle (25, Cen Michigan) 13.6 16.9 7.2 2.7
G Kevin Johnson (24, Cal) 22.2 23.7 12.7 6 VORP
G Jeff Hornacek (27, Iowa St) 16.9 17.8 9.7 3.7
Rotation Reserves
C Andrew Lang (24, Arkansas) 4.9 13.6 3.7 .9
F Kurt Rambis (32, Santa Clara) 3.6 11.4 2.2 .4
F Xavier McDaniel (27, Wichita St) 15.8 14.7 4.2 .6
G Negele Knight (23, Dayton) 5.3 12.1 .6 -.1
G Cedric Ceballos (21, Cal St Fullerton) 8.2 17.8 1.3 0
Leaders: KJ (4th Assists, 4th Assists/Gm, 5th Asst %, 2nd Team All NBA
Hornacek (3rd 3s)
24 year old Kevin Johnson leads the Suns, 23 PER and a dozen Win Shares; this Suns team is the 15th seed in the Region, they shocked the '00 Lakers 2-0 in round 1 and try to keep that going here.
Matchup:
C Gasol (Spurs)
F Aldridge (Spurs)
F Kawhi (Spurs)
G KJ (Suns)
G Hornacek (Suns)
Bench: Spurs
Gm
1 Qtr
9 Suns 10 Spurs 7
Spurs Aldridge(3) Mills, Aldridge
Suns Chambers, Chambers, Majerle, Hornacek, Chambers
6 Suns 18 Spurs 12
Spurs Aldridge, Ginobli, Gasol(1)
Suns Chambers, Hornacek, West, Chambers
Tom Chambers with 10 to open the series.
3 Suns 26 Spurs 14
Spurs Parker
Suns Chambers, Chambers, Chambers, Ceballos
1 Score Suns 35 Spurs 20
Spurs Green, Kawhi, Aldridge
Suns Majerle, Rambis, Hornacek(3) Rambis
Region 1 had the Cinderella Hawks make their way to the Semi - here's the 15th seed in Region 2, the Suns, and they just go off to start this one.
2 Qtr
9 Suns 37 Spurs 29
Spurs Anderson(3) Anderson, Lee, Green
Suns Lang
6 Suns 42 Spurs 34
Spurs Ginobli(3) Kawhi
Suns McDaniel, Hornacek(3)
Spurs cut the deficit nearly in half.
3 Suns 44 Spurs 41
Spurs Ginobli, Kawhi(3) Gasol
Suns Majerle
H Score Suns 52 Spurs 48
Spurs Aldridge, Aldridge, Ginobli(3)
Suns Majerle, West, Chambers, Hornacek
San Antonio's back in the game.
3Qtr
9 Suns 60 Spurs 52
Spurs Lee, Lee
Suns Majerle, West, West, KJ
6 Suns 69 Spurs 61
Spurs Aldridge(1) Kawhi, Dedmon, Aldridge, Ginobli
Suns KJ(3) KJ, Ceballos, Chambers
KJ with 7 to open the quarter, Suns maintain the lead.
3 Suns 73 Spurs 65
Spurs Aldridge, Kawhi
Suns Ceballos, Majerle
3 Score Suns 77 Spurs 73
Spurs Aldridge, Green(3) Kawhi, Lee(1)
Suns Chambers, West
San Antonio's charging - deficit is down to 4.
4 Qtr
11:06: SA: Phoenix has led every second - but Aldridge floats one from 5 feet to cut it to two.
10:29: SA: The Suns don't score and Aldridge ties it with a dunk.
8:04 PHO Baskets hard to come by here in the 4th, nearly 4 minutes in before the Suns score - it's the X man, fouled on a baseline drive - he drops in the shot and then hits the FT. 80-77
7:49: SA: Gasol hits a 10 footer.
7:30: PHO: KJ drives and scores.
6:59: PHO: The Spurs miss - KJ nails a 15 footer.
6:37: SA: Kawhi, just outside the paint.
6:18: PHO: Kevin Johnson again - scores in traffic.
5:51: SA: Pau with a 3 from the top. 86-84.
5:24: PHO: Mark West dunk.
4:14: PHO: KJ one more time with a floater in the lane.
3:36: PHO: The Suns lead is 7 when Chambers hits a FT
F Score Suns 102 Spurs 92
Spurs Gasol, Aldridge(3) Kawhi(3)
Suns KJ, Chambers(3) KJ, KJ, Chambers
San Antonio crawled out of a big early hole for an early 4th quarter tie - but they never led game one even for a second and now must win in Phoenix or the Suns will face OKC in the Region 2 Semi.
KJ: 21 pts/10 assists-Player of the Game
Chambers: 26 pts/9 boards
West: 12 pts/12 boards
Majerle: 14 pts/7 boards
Hornacek: 12 pts/8 assists/6 boards
Aldridge: 27 pts/8 boards
Kawhi: 18 pts/11 boards
Gasol: 10 pts/14 boards
Ginobli: 12 pts
Gm 2
1 Qtr
9 Spurs 5 Suns 4
Suns Chambers, KJ
Spurs Aldridge, Kawhi(3)
6 Spurs 19 Suns 15
Suns KJ, Chambers(3) Majerle, Chambers, KJ
Spurs Ginobli. Gasol(3) Kawhi, Gasol, Ginobli, Kawhi(3)
Game 2 in Phoenix - the Suns try to wear that Cinderella slipper all the way to the Region 2 Semis.
3 Spurs 23 Suns 19
Suns Hornacek, Hornacek
Spurs Green, Aldridge
1 Score Spurs 31 Suns 26
Suns Ceballos, Knight(1) Ceballos, McDaniel
Spurs Parker, Kawhi, Parker, Parker
Tony Parker with a half dozen to end the quarter.
2 Qtr
9 Spurs 43 Suns 35
Suns KJ, McDaniel, Ceballos(3) Chambers
Spurs Anderson(1) Lee, Parker, Lee, Aldridge, Gasol(3)
6 Spurs 48 Suns 41
Suns Chambers, Hornacek, KJ
Spurs Gasol(1) Aldridge, Mills
Steady as she goes for the Spurs, who need to win to stay alive.
3 Spurs 55 Suns 45
Suns Majerle, Rambis
Spurs Kawhi(1) Dedmon, Lee, Kawhi
H Score Spurs 64 Suns 49
Suns Hornacek, Knight
Spurs Aldridge, Anderson, Aldridge, Mills(3)
San Antonio is rolling along; looks like we are headed for the showdown game.
3Qtr
9 Spurs 67 Suns 53
Suns West, Hornacek
Spurs Aldridge,
6 Spurs 71 Suns 61
Suns KJ, Chambers(3) KJ(1) Majerle
Spurs Gasol, Mills
Suns inch a little closer.
3 Spurs 75 Suns 69
Suns Chambers, Hornacek, Rambis, Hornacek
Spurs Dedmon, Anderson
3 Score Spurs 77 Suns 71
Suns KJ
Spurs Chambers
Phoenix chips, chips, chips away - this is really the inverse of game one.
4 Qtr
9 Spurs 84 Suns 75
Suns Chambers, Majerle
Spurs Dedmon, Kawhi, Aldridge(3)
6 Spurs 96 Suns 84
Suns KJ, West, Chambers, Majerle(3)
Spurs Gasol, Gasol, Lee, Gasol, Aldridge
The Majerle 3 got this as close as 6.
3 Spurs 105 Suns 92
Suns Hornacek(3) Hornacek, EJohnson(3)
Spurs Mills (3) Mills, Simmons, Bertans
F Score Spurs 113 Suns 97
Suns EJohnson,Perry(1) Nealy
Spurs Bertans, Simmons, Bertans, Murray
San Antonio wins pretty handily - road team take both games and we go back to San Antonio.
Aldridge: 20 pts/12 boards/5 blocks-Player of the Game
Gasol: 19 pts/14 boards
Kawhi: 15 pts/6 boards/5 assists
Mills: 12 pts/6 assists
Lee: 10 pts/7 boards
KJ: 17 pts/14 boards/5 assists
Chambers: 20 pts/8 boards
Majerle: 11 pts/5 boards
West: 4 pts/10 boards
Hornacek: 19 pts/5 boards
Gm 3
1 Qtr
9 Suns 6 Spurs 3
Spurs Mills(3)
Suns West, Chambers, West
6 Spurs 21 Suns 17
Spurs Aldridge, Gasol, Gasol(3) Aldridge, Kawhi(3) Gasol(3) Ginobli(3)
Suns Chambers, Hornacek(3) KJ, KJ, Majerle
8 for Gasol as we open the showdown game.
3 Spurs 25 Suns 21
Spurs Gasol, Kawhi
Suns Majerle, West, Chambers
1 Score Spurs 27 Suns 25
Spurs Parker
Suns Ceballos, Ceballos
We might get a competitive game here - will Phoenix reach the Region 2 Semi?
2 Qtr
9 Spurs 33 Suns 33
Spurs Parker, Dedmon, Anderson
Suns Lang, KJ, Lang, Lang
6 Spurs 38 Suns 37
Spurs Aldridge(3) Mills
Suns Chambers, Hornacek
Half dozen by Andrew Lang gets the quarter going - the Cinderalla Suns holding tight.
3 Spurs 48 Suns 39
Spurs Green, Lee(1) Gasol, Parker, Kawhi(3)
Suns Majerle
H Score Spurs 56 Suns 45
Spurs Kawhi(3) Parker(3) Kawhi
Suns Chambers, West, Majerle
And just like that - San Antonio opens it up - 3 triples and it's an 11 pt game.
3Qtr
9 Spurs 64 Suns 52
Spurs Kawhi, Kawhi, Aldridge Kawhi
Suns Majerle(3) McDaniel, KJ
6 Spurs 70 Suns 58
Spurs Mills(3) Aldridge(3)
Suns KJ, Hornacek, Majerle
Half dozen more for Kawhi - the Spurs look to advance to meet the Thunder.
3 Spurs 79 Suns 68
Spurs Aldridge(1) Kawhi, Gasol, Kawhi, Aldridge
Suns Chambers, Chambers, Majerle, Hornacek, KJ
3 Score Spurs 82 Suns 76
Spurs Gasolm Kawhi(1)
Suns Hornacek, McDaniel, Hornacek, Ceballos
God run by the Suns cuts the deficit in half. 12 minutes left.
4 Qtr
9 Spurs 88 Suns 83
Spurs Lee, Kawhi, Lee
Suns KJ, Majerle(3) Chambers
6 Spurs 91 Suns 91
Spurs Parker, Kawhi(1)
Suns West, West, Chambers, KJ
Phoenix ties it up - you might have thought the Suns would curl up and die after the big Spurs lead - but they fight back and here we go, 12 left.
5:37: SA: Kawhi - all by himself, step back 3.
5:23: SA: Suns turnover - Aldridge from the paint.
4:28: SA: Suns don't score and Aldridge does. 98-91
4:19: PHO: Hornacek scores from the paint.
4:08: SA: Gasol dunk
3:12: PHO: West down low - Spurs up 5.
2:35: PHO: Suns get a stop - Chambers is fouled and cuts it to 4.
1:50: SA: Gasol from the FT line.
1:37: PHO: West banks one home.
1:24: SA: It's Pau - J from the wing - Spurs by 6.
:39: PHO: This is probably too late, the Suns don't score for a minute - and it's a West 2.
:24: SA: Ginbobli 2 FT
Kawhi hits 3 FT down the stretch - Spurs win.
It's the Spurs: 109-100
Lot of Suns double doubles here in game 3 - but none are enough, San Antonio advances to take on OKC.
Kawhi: 33 pts/8 boards-Player of the Game
Gasol: 22 pts/14 boards
Aldridge: 19 pts/10 boards
Parker: 11 pts
All Region Team:
C Kareem ('73 Bucks-3 PotG)
F Durant ('16 Thunder- 3 PotG)
F Kawhi ('17 Spurs-3 PotG)
G Harden ('19 Rockets-4 PotG)
G Jordan ('96 Bulls-2 PotG)
3. 2016 NW DIV CHAMP OKC THUNDER v. 7. 2017 SW DIV CHAMP SA SPURS
Matchup:
C Gasol (Spurs)
F Aldridge (Spurs)
F Durant (OKC)
G Westbrook (OKC)
G Ginobli (Spurs)
G Ginobli (Spurs)
Bench: Spurs
Game 1
1 Q
9 Thunder 4 Spurs 3
OKC Kanter, Kanter
Spurs Ginobli(3)
6 Spurs 17 Thunder 8
OKC Ibaka, Durant
Spurs Mills(3) Aldridge, Aldridge, Aldridge, Gasol(3) Kawhi
Region 2 semi is underway; the '19 Rockets moved forward in the top half of the region - one of these teams will face them in the Round of 32.
3 Spurs 21 Thunder 11
Thunder Durant(3)
Spurs Kawhi, Mills
1 q Score Spurs 28 Thunder 15
Thunder Payne, Durant, Parker
Spurs Dedmon, Kawhi(3)
Hot start for the Spurs.
2 q
9 Spurs 38 Thunder 24
Thunder Morrow, Adams, Ibaka(3) Ibaka
Spurs Dedmon, Dedmon, Dedmon, Kawhi, Gasol
6 Spurs 47 Thunder 26
Thunder Ibaka
Spurs Anderson, Dedmon, Ginobli, Gasol(3)
The Spurs are cooking the Thunder, we're gonna head to San Antonio with the Spurs looking to close out.
3 Spurs 51 Thunder 28
Thunder Westbrook
Spurs Kawhi, lee
H Score Spurs 58 Thunder 34
Thunder Ibaka, Adams, Westbrook
Spurs Kawhi(3) Kawhi(1) Kawhi(3)
9 in the last 6 for Kawhi - the Spurs are going to take game 1.
3 q
9 Spurs 68 Thunder 44
Thunder Kanter, Morrow(3) Durant, Durant(3)
Spurs Gasol(3) Ginobli(3) Gasol, Aldridge
6 Spurs 74 Thunder 55
Thunder Westbrook(3) Adams(1) Ibaka(3) Roberson, Kanter
Spurs Dedmon, Kawhi, Aldridge
Spurs cruising.
3 Spurs 84 Thunder 63
Thunder Westbrook, Roberson, Durant, Durant
Spurs Ginobli(3) Kawhi, Gasol, Mills(3)
3q Score Spurs 87 Thunder 65
Thunder Westbrook
Spurs Mills(3)
OKC will need to regroup when they head to San Antonio.
4q
9 Spurs 95 Thunder 78
Thunder Adams(1) Durant(3) Adams, Durant, Durant(3)
Spurs Anderson, Kawhi, Gasol, Kawhi
6 Spurs 104 Thunder 84
Thunder Durant, Durant, Collison
Spurs Kawhi(3) Lee, Kawhi, Lee
KD adding a ton of 4th quarter pts.
3 Spurs 112 Thunder 93
Thunder Collison, Durant, Ibaka(3) Durant
Spurs Parker, Gasol, Parker
F Score Spurs 116 Thunder 98
Thunder Westbrook, Kanter(3)
Spurs Kawhi, Parker
San Antonio sends a message and now they are one game away from putting forth the second Spurs team into the Round of 32. Westbrook had a quadruple double - for the 4th double was turnovers, he had 11, that's a tournament high.
Kawhi: 33 pts/6 assists/5 boards-Player of the Game
Gasol: 19 pts/19 boards
Aldridge: 12 pts/7 boards
Ginobli: 11 pts/6 boards/6 assists
Mills: 11 pts/8 assists
Dedmon: 12 pts/7 boards
Durant: 32 pts/9 boards/6 assists
Kanter: 11 pts/10 boards
Westbrook: 13 pts/12 boards/11 assists
Ibaka: 17 pts/5 boards
Adams: 10 pts
Game 2
1 Q
9 Thunder 10 Spurs 9
Spurs Kawhi, Aldridge, Kawhi, Mills(3)
Thunder Ibaka(3) Westbrook, Durant(3) Ibaka
6 Spurs 18 Thunder 18
Spurs Gasol(3) Kawhi(3) Kawhi(3)
Thunder Durant, Durant, Durant, Westbrook
4 Spurs triples to open the game.
3 Spurs 32 Thunder 21
Spurs Kawhi, Aldridge, Dedmon, Aldridge, Mills(3) Kawhi(3)
Thunder Morrow(3)
1 q Score Spurs 34 Thunder 27
Spurs Lee
Thunder Morrow, Collison, Durant
15 first quarter points for Kawhi Leonard; he's looking for his 5th Player of the Game Award.
2 q
9 Spurs 44 Thunder 32
Spurs Parker(3) Parker, Parker, Mills(3)
Thunder Westbrook(3) Adams, Westbrook
6 Spurs 48 Thunder 38
Spurs Lee, Kawhi
Thunder Ibaka, Waiters
San Antonio is rolling; a win here and they reach the Region 2 Finals and send us to Region 3.
3 Spurs 54 Thunder 42
Spurs Gasol, Dedmon, Gasol
Thunder Roberson, Kanter
H Score Spurs 65 Thunder 46
Spurs Gasol(3) Ginobli, Kawhi, Lee, Gasol
Thunder Kanter, Westbrook
And just like that - it appears done. 9 for Pau to close the half; we are looking at an All-Texas Region 2 Final.
3 q
9 Spurs 69 Thunder 55
Spurs Gasol, Parker
Thunder Ibaka(3) Kanter, Westbrook, Westbrook
6 Spurs 71 Thunder 64
Spurs Kawhi
Thunder Westbrook, Durant, Morrow(3) Durant
Big run for OKC - they get back into the game.
3 Spurs 80 Thunder 70
Spurs Mills, Anderson, Parker(3) Ginobli
Thunder Morrow(3) Durant(3)
3q Score Spurs 85 Thunder 79
Spurs Gasol, Mills(3)
Thunder Ibaka, Kanter, Morrow(3) Kanter
Spurs 20 pt lead is down to 6.
4q
9 Spurs 94 Thunder 89
Spurs Gasol, Aldridge, Mills(3) Aldridge
Thunder Westbrook, Westbrook, Durant, Kanter, Westbrook
6 Spurs 96 Thunder 92
Spurs Dedmon
Thunder Payne(3)
OKC was dead and buried - but now they trail by just 4.
5:42: OKC: Kanter from the paint.
5:29: SA: Gasol drills a 16 footer.
4:54: SA: Lee scores down low. 100-94
4:17: SA: Gasol turnaround in the paint.
3:28: SA: That might be that - Aldridge hits a triple from the top. It's an 11 point game
F Score Spurs 120 Thunder 114
SA Gasol, Kawhi, Aldridge, Kawhi, Gasol(3) Simmons(3) Murray(1)
OKC Durant(3) Durant, ibaka(3) McGary(3) Huestis(3) Huestis(3) Ibaka(3)
Massive celebration in San Antonio - the Spurs have reached the Round of 32. Westbrook an assist short of another triple double.
Gasol: 27 pts/11 boards-Player of the Game
Kawhi: 25 pts/4 steals
Mills: 17 pts/9 assists
Aldridge: 15 pts/5 boards
Parker: 12 pts
All Region Team:
C Kareem ('73 Bucks-3 PotG)
F Kawhi ('17 Spurs-4 PotG)
F Durant ('16 Thunder- 3 PotG)
G Harden ('19 Rockets-4 PotG)
G Jordan ('96 Bulls-2 PotG)
Region 1 Final: 2004 Spurs v. 1980 Lakers
Region 2 Final: 2017 Spurs v. 2019 Rockets
