NBA - Spurs survive overtime scare, take 2-0 West Finals lead
By Homer D. Sayson
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 23 May 2013
CHICAGO -- The San Antonio Spurs blew an 18-point lead with 3:32 left in the third quarter but the four-time NBA champions gathered their poise in overtime to beat the Memphis Grizzlies, 93-89, in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals Tuesday night at the AT@T Center in downtown San Antonio.
Tony Parker led the Spurs with 15 points and 18 assists but it was 37-year old Tim Duncan who came to the rescue in the extra session by scoring six straight points as San Antonio hung on for a 2-0 lead in this best-of-7 series. Games 3 and 4 moves to the FedEx Forum in Memphis beginning this Saturday night.
After coasting to a 105-83 Game 1 rout, the Spurs appeared poised for another easy romp in Game 2 when they led 83-70 with 8:11 to go. But the Spurs went cold as Siberia the rest of the way and the tough Grizzlies took advantage by finishing the fourth quarter on a 15-2 run, including four points in the final 26.7 seconds of regulation.
The Grizzlies, who shot just 33 of 97 of their shots (34 percent) and just five of 21 threes (29.4 percent), couldn't finish what would have been an epic comeback, falling in overtime, 7-4.
Duncan finished with 17 points, nine rebounds and four blocks and center Tiago Splitter added 14 markers. San Antonio's two other starters -- Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green -- also chalked double figures in points with 12 and 11 respectively. The Spurs made only 9 of 25 threes and 36 of 83 field goals overall.
Just like Game 1, where they led by as many as 17 in the opening quarter, the Spurs went to a quick 7-0 start and led by 15 at halftime. But the Grizzlies kept within striking distance by controlling the boards, 60-46, and tightening the defensive screws. Point guard Mike Conley had 18 points for Memphis while Zach Randolph, who was held to two points in Game 1, rebounded with 15 points and 18 boards.
"They ran at us. They got easy buckets. They got hot. But the second half I think we played more our basketball. We attacked, and of course everything works better when you make shots," Grizzlies center Marco Gasol, who tallied 12 points and 14 rebounds, told NBA.com. (Homer D. Sayson)
Photo: Tony Parker led the Spurs with 18 assists as San Antonio beat the Grizzlies in Game 2, 93-89, to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals.
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