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.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 15 SEPTEMBER 2025: Crawford Snatches Canelo's Undisputed Crown at 168 Lbs; Inoue Defeats Akhmadliev to Retain 4 Superbantam Belts; Crocker Outpoints Donovan
By Eric Armit, Wed, 17 Sep 2025TICKET NEWS: EUBANK JR-BENN II ON SALE FROM THIS WEDNESDAY
Wed, 17 Sep 2025“Night of Champions” Returns to Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando on September 19
Wed, 17 Sep 2025Canelo-Crawford: The Consolidation of Boxing’s New Commercial Empire
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 17 Sep 2025A New Era for Boxing: Canelo vs. Crawford Shatters Global Viewership Records on Netflix
By Dong Secuya, Wed, 17 Sep 2025Crawford Not the First Lightweight to Distinguish Himself at Super Middleweight
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Wed, 17 Sep 2025Kurt Scoby and Josh Popper Headline Boxing Insider Card September 19 in Times Square
Wed, 17 Sep 2025Green and Gold 2025: Amateur Boxing’s International Gathering in Bolivia
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 17 Sep 2025Pakistan's Sameer Khan Set to Battle for UBO Youth World Title in Brico Santig’s Sep 27 Show in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Tue, 16 Sep 2025SAMBO Pilipinas is Southern NSA of the Year 2025
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 16 Sep 2025Kingsley “The Black Lion” Ibeh To headline historic “Legacy Nights” Inaugural Pro Boxing event in El Salvador
Tue, 16 Sep 2025Smarts over power
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 16 Sep 2025HALL OF FAME FLIES FLAGS AT HALF-STAFF FOR TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION RICKY HATTON
Tue, 16 Sep 2025Kazakhstan tops the medal table at the inaugural World Boxing Championships 2025 thanks to victory in the final bout of the competition
Tue, 16 Sep 2025THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 13: JOE FRAZIER’S HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AS AN AMATEUR FIGHTER
By Maloney L. Samaco, Mon, 15 Sep 2025