Tim Duncan, Spurs surge Thunder for 3-2 lead in series
Back at home, this blowout willinged to the San Antonio Spurs.
Now they can secure a return to the NBA Finals on the road, where they are the ones taking the poundings in these goofy Western Conference finals.
"This is the craziest collection I have actually ever before been involved in," pro Tim Duncan said.
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The Spurs took a 3-2 lead in the series Thursday evening after Duncan had 22 points and 12 rebounds in a 117-89 success over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Jekyll-and-Hyde collection continued between the past 2 Western Meeting champs, as the roadway group has actually been thumped in every video game of the best-of-seven collection.
Game 6 is Saturday in Oklahoma City.
"I have no idea, honestly," Propels train Gregg Popovich stated of the disparity. "I believe every video game, it's a varying animal. It really is. We speak with our team about that at all times. You have no idea exactly what's going to occur, just how a group is willing to emerge, whether they're visiting be sluggish or hold the ball, get 50/50 rounds or don't obtain 50/50 rounds.".
Kevin Durant scored 25 factors, however Russell Westbrook had simply 21 points and 7 helps after doning with 40 factors and 10 aids in Video game 4.
Manu Ginobili racked up 19 points, Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green each had 14, and Boris Diaw included THIRTEEN for the Spurs, that are a gain away from returning to the NBA Finals after shedding in seven games to Miami in 2012.
The Spurs returned to the style of play that enabled them to gain the collection' very first 2 video games by a combined 52 points.
"We provided them everything they wished," Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks said. "They got the dribble drive, they acquired the 3-point line and they got to the free throw line.".
The Spurs have actually won 7 straight residence video games by at the very least 15 points dating back to Game 7 of the preliminary against Dallas. That is the longest such streak in NBA playoff record, and consists of a 35-point succeed in Game 2 and a 28-point succeed in Video game 5 on Thursday.
The Spurs also were 13-for-26 on 3-pointers and outrebounded the Thunder 48-35. Additionally, San Antonio limited Oklahoma City to four fast-break factors after quiting 21 in Video game 4.
After shedding two times in Oklahoma City by an average of 11 factors, San Antonio upped its gaining margin in San Antonio to 26.7 points each game.
Oklahoma City had simply 34 factors in the 2nd half after scoring 32 in the initial quarter.
"Our tries just weren't falling for us," Durant mentioned. "We've reached stay threatening and we've got to acquire quits. When we cannot make a shot, we have actually reached play protection, and we didn't tonite.".
San Antonio outscored Oklahoma City by 10 points in both the 2nd and 3rd quarters, permitting both ears groups to rest their starters for much of the fourth.
Serge Ibaka, that dominated the inside in Oklahoma City, was held to six points and 2 rebounds.
The Spurs started Matt Bonner instead of Tiago Splitter to attract Ibaka from the paint, and it functioned early. It likewise helped defensively, as Ibaka attacked Bonner however missed his initial five tries on a series of running linkeds. Duncan additionally was able to assist defensively, rolling over to block a layup attempt by Ibaka.
"He didn't have the games that he had the last 2 games, that's quite clear," Brooks stated. "I believed his energy excelled. He contended. He missed out on some tries that he generally makes. (But) it was everybody. It was everybody.".
San Antonio's crowd was rowdy from the beginning, booing Westbrook heavily during pregame introductions and emerging joyously when Green racked up the team's initial factors on a 3-pointer 1 1/2 mins into the video game.
Oklahoma City resisted the very early barrage, taking place an 11-2 run for its largest lead of the video game.
San Antonio kept Westbrook from the paint early, yet that simply opened the streets for Reggie Jackson, who made his first 5 tries. He had four straight layups and afterwards drained a 3-pointer with Tony Parker carefully protecting.
When raised whether San Antonio had actually done anything in different ways to keep him out of the paint, Westbrook claimed, "Absolutely nothing.".
Three-point capturing acquired San Antonio back into the game, as Patty Mills and Eco-friendly shut the very first with consecutive Fives to link the video game at 32-all.
Diaw's 3 offered San Antonio a 42-37 lead with 6:12 left in the first one-half and caused an Oklahoma City timeout.
Ginobili's 3 offered the Spurs a 65-52 lead with 6.9 seconds left in the very first half.
Ginobili's 3rd 3 offered San Antonio an 87-70 lead with 3 minutes continuing to be in the third.
