Spurs dispose Thunder, advance to second straight NBA Finals
By Homer D. Sayson
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 01 Jun 2014
CHICAGO -- Tim Duncan turned back the clock Saturday night when the San Antonio Spurs closed out the Western Conference Finals series 4-2 following a thrilling 112-107 overtime win over the OKC Thunder in Game 6 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Duncan, a 2-time MVP and 4-time NBA champion, finished with 19 points, including a tough fade away jumper that gave the Spurs a 110-107 cushion with just 19.4 ticks left in overtime. Duncan, a 14-time All-Star also had 15 rebounds in 39 minutes of play.
"We wanted it badly. I was afraid we gave it away there late. It's unbelievable to regain the focus (after last season's loss). We've got four more to win and we'll do it this time," Duncan told David Aldridge of TNT Sports during the post game interview.
The Spur's win catapults them to a second straight NBA Finals appearance, setting up a rematch with the two defending champions Miami Heat, who beat them in seven games last June.
The 2014 NBA Finals begin on June 5 (June 6 in Manila). The Spurs will host Games 1,2,5 and 7 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio while the Heat will host Games 3,4 and 6 at the American Airlines Arena.
Boris Diaw had a big hand in eliminating the Spurs as the veteran forward drilled 26 points on 8-for-14 shooting from the field. Kawhi Leonard finished with 17 and 11 boards while Manu Ginobili added 15.
The Spurs, who shot 38 of 94 from the field (40.4 percent), missed the services of Tony Parker, who sat out the second half with ankle soreness. Parker played only for 18 minutes and 52 seconds and logged 8 points.
After trailing 49-42 at the half, San Antonio turned the tables with a 37-20 third quarter barrage. The Spurs squandered a 12-point fourth quarter lead but held steady in overtime, fending off the rallying Thunder, 11-6.
Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook combined for 65 points to lead the Thunder, but they also combined for 14 turnovers. Reggie Jackson was solid with 21 points while Serge Ibaka came through with 16 and 4 blocks, but the Thunder bench got only 5 points, all from veteran Derek Fisher. (Homer D. Sayson)
Photo: Boris Diaw had 26 points in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals where the Spurs eliminated the OKC Thunder in overtime, 112-107, to advance to the NBA Finals for the second year in a row.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
TICKET 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 2025A New King, A New Challenger: Turki Alalshikh Proposes Crawford-Benavidez While Canelo Alvarez Faces Defeat with Humility
By Dong Secuya, Mon, 15 Sep 2025