NBA WEST SEMIS -- Spurs pound Clippers, take 1-0 lead
By Homer D. Sayson
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 17 May 2012
AFTER an eight-day layoff, the San Antonio Spurs finally got to host the other half of the Western Conference's playoffs semifinal Tuesday night at the AT@T Center in San Antonio.
The extended rest did not yield rust. On the contrary, it provided fresher legs and extra energy as the eager for action hosts ran the visiting Los Angeles Clippers out of their building with 108-92 victory in Game 1 of their best-of-7 series.
The Spurs, who swept the Utah Jazz 4-0 in Round 1, got another turn-back-the-clock effort from their 36-year old team captain Tim Duncan, who finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocked shots. Duncan gutted the Clippers' interior defense with 12-for-20 shooting.
Duncan got ample help -- 22 from Manu Ginobili, 16 from Kawhi Leonard and 15 from Danny Green. Tony Parker managed just secen points, but he ran the Spurs offense efficiently with 11 assists.
Unlike the well-rested Spurs, the Clippers went the full route against the Memphis Grizzlies with Game 7 played barely 48 hours prior to their trip to San Antonio.
The fatigue and nicks and bruises from the grueling Memphis showdown didn't show early on as the Clippers hung around with the Spurs 29-29 ater one quarter and down only 57-49 at halftime.
But the second half told another tale. The Spurs kept running, kept attacking the basket, and tightened the screws on defense. And it didn't take long for the gassed and banged up Clippers to fall apart, trailing 83-64 following a pair of Ginobili free throws in the final 1:54 of the third quarter.
The Spurs connected 39-of-80 field goals (48.8 percent), 13-of-25 threes (52 percent) and 17-of-21 free throws (81 percent). They badly outrebounded the Clips, 47-34 and won the assists battle, 29-19.
The Clippers didn't shoot miserably, but they were nearly as productive and effective as the Spurs -- -- 37-of-83 (44.6 percent) field goals, 9-of-19 threes (47.4 percent) and a low 9-of-13 free throws (69.2 percent).
Eric Bledsoe paced the Clippers with 23 points but Blake Griffin only had 15 points and 9 rebounds. Point guard Chris, their man spark, struggled with only six points on 3-for-13 shooting. Paul also had five turnovers against 10 assists. (Homer D. Sayson)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Boxing: Entertainment Sport or Sport Entertainment?
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Wed, 07 May 2025JIM LAMPLEY'S BOOK TOUR IS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THIS WEEK!
Wed, 07 May 2025CAPITO IGNITES TITLE DEFENCE IN STYLE | 2025 UK OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
Wed, 07 May 2025Sol Levinson: The Man Whose Gloves Elevated Boxing
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Tue, 06 May 2025Undefeated Cuban Heavyweight Prospect Dainier Pero Finishes Intense Las Vegas Training Camp Ahead of May 9 MVP Main Event on DAZN
Tue, 06 May 2025The Past Week in Action 5 May 2025: Inoue-Cardenas Saves Historic Boxing Weekend; Canelo-Scull Sets New Record for Fewest Punches Thrown
By Eric Armit, Tue, 06 May 2025Sampson Lewkowicz Congratulates Cardenas, Romero and Espinoza and Vows to Make Next Year's Cinco de Mayo Unforgettable, Highlighted by David Benavidez Facing the Winner of Bivol vs. Beterbiev
Tue, 06 May 2025Saving the Best for Last: GSW Upstages Raw Rockets
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 06 May 2025Antonio, Bagamasbad face tough competition in Woman FIDE Master Sheerie Joy Lomibao Open Rapid Chess Tournament on May 18
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 06 May 2025Andres “Savage” Cortes Finishes Strong Training Camp Ahead of Crucial May 10 Clash Against Salvador Jimenez at Pechanga Arena San Diego
Tue, 06 May 2025SALITA PROMOTIONS and ALL THE SMOKE FIGHT PRESENT HALL OF FAME FIGHT NIGHT
Tue, 06 May 2025IBA embraces Bare Knuckle Boxing
Tue, 06 May 2025Monster Dynamite: Inoue Crushes Cardenas in Eight
Mon, 05 May 2025"THE MONSTER" SURVIVES EARLY SCARE, DESTROYS CARDENAS IN THRILLING WAR TO RETAIN UNDISPUTED CROWN
By Dong Secuya, Mon, 05 May 2025Dana White to Promote Canelo vs. Crawford: UFC Boss Set to Elevate Superfight to Historic Levels
By T. Chin-Te, Mon, 05 May 2025