Western Conference Finals - Leonard eliminates Durant, 121-118 (4-0)

Kawhi Leonard hit a 3PTer at the buzzer to win the West.

On the brink of elimination, the Golden State Warriors came out firing on all cylinders, going up by 12 points early. A huge 42-33 final quarter by the Spurs made the unlikely possible for the Spurs, playing the road villain in this game. They got close enough to make every Warriors fan uneasy in the stands, the score 59-52: Golden State at halftime, but just 79-85 heading into the be-all, end-all quarter. Mario Hezonja got them within 6 points at the buzzer, splashing in the 3PTer.

After a steal by Leonard led to a jumper for Tony Parker to tie the score at 85, the French floor general hit a 3PTer next, thanks to Mario Hezonja's steal, granting the Spurs an 91-88 advantage--a brisk turn of events to begin the quarter.

Klay Thompson was a lethal weapon in the final quarter.

Meanwhile, Klay Thompson caught fire for 27 points, making shot after shot after shot. "It seems he never misses those catch-and-shoot opportunites," Mike Breen remarked from the commentary booth. Iman Shumpert played Thompson hard each time, making his own shots in response, a whip pass by Tony Parker giving Shump a 3PTer on the wing, the ball splashing through the net to make it 107-101.

Pau Gasol would draw a foul making a layup, notching 20 points on the night, pouring on pressure for the home team. Kevin Durant would make a put-back dunk and two more jams on top of that one, watching Zaza Pachulia's layup cut the lead down to just a single point. Kawhi Leonard would make both free throws in crunch time, and Golden State took a final timeout. The inbound to Durant led to a swarm by a double team, the ball escaping into Steph Curry's hands beyond the 3PT marker. Curry would get trapped, with San Antonio scrambling back to Durant in the corner, whose shot would go in.

The ever-clutch KD nearly saved the day for his team.

118-118, with 4 seconds left on the clock.

"You can't just let your team self-destruct here in these clutch moments," Jeff Van Gundy spoke on the sidelines. The inbound pass to a streaking Kawhi Leonard, who would then bump into Durant, blocking off the drive attempt, would free up the agile Leonard just enough to rise to the side of Durant, stepping past his long frame, as Klay Thompson also offered a hand to contest the shot.

The ball went in.

Kawhi Leonard led his team to the NBA Finals...once again.

After intense replay deliberation, the referees would put .4s back on the clock. A desperate inbound to Curry, whose shot misfired, followed and Golden State's season was officially over. In this epic war, Kawhi Leonard had 26 points and shot 4/8 from long range with 2 blocks. Both teams shot over 50% from the field, with the Spurs making one more three-pointer than the Warriors. An overtime period looming, that one extra make was The Claw's and it caused just enough separation of victory.

Mario Hezonja turned in another strong game with 22 points on 7/14 shooting. Pau Gasol had 7 rebounds also, as Jeremy Lamb delivered 15 points showing off his athletic repertoire. Iman Shumpert had 12 points; Patty Mills had 10 points with 6 assists and Tony Parker chipped in 7 points with 4 assists during that 4th Quarter upswing for San Antonio. Their season and championship aspirations at a premature but fair close, Steph Curry had 16 points and 11 assists; Draymond Green had 12 points with 2 blocks; Zaza Pachulia gave 14 points with 11 rebounds and Kevin Durant's 26 points and game-tying 3PTer will be remembered in unison with Klay Thompson's masterful 27 points that included a handful of long range strokes. The Warriors missed four free throws, but the two top seeds in the west combined for just 13 turnovers.

Ousting King James from his Eastern Conference Throne, DeMar DeRozan's Toronto Raptors await the Spurs, eager for their first Finals and to serve as the final defiance for the defending champions, posing a fresh challenge to San Antonio's conquest.

The Raptors finally bested the Cavaliers, 4-2, to reach the NBA Finals.

Western Conference Finals - Spurs persevere in Oakland, win 117-109 (3-0).

Mario Hezonja was the spark of life in this 3-0 victory.

Mario the marksman came through for the Spurs in this game, sparking the road team as they tried to stifle the Warriors. Meanwhile, the home crowd was amped-up and not wanting to let their Warriors go down 3-0. Alas, that would happen but not without some dramatic moments.

The surprising highlight was Hezonja's lights-out shooting display, scoring a mighty 35 points and crashing in seven long-range daggers into the heart of the Bay Area tonight.

The Warriors whiffed time and time again in the 1st Quarter, going 5-26 overall, missing every kind of shot imaginable. The Spurs opened on a 12-4 run with five fierce blocks early-on, leading 47-41 at halftime, the result of Klay Thompson getting hot and draining a trio of bombs from distance. Then the brutal screen came by Kyle O'Quinn, freeing up Hezonja for that sniper shot. Moreover, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry fired back showing their combined proficiency from deep waters. Patty Mills joined the fun after a steal by Kawhi Leonard set him up on the perimeter, then Mills dished a pass to Mario for another crushing 3PTer in the corner after the Spurs forced a deflection. Hezonja would strike deep again in the closing seconds from the other corner to all but end this 3-0 spectacle.

Steph Curry was determined to fight until the end, willing the Warriors within eight points by the final buzzer, but they just didn't have the strength to stop San Antonio from engaging in this blow-for-blow shootout, a sign of things to come.

Patty Mills made a fade-away 3PTer for good measure, polarizing the crowd as Biyombo roamed the paint hunting for blocks and establishing his fearsome defensive presence down low. Kawhi Leonard jammed home a runaway dunk, Hezonja made an aggressive layup with the free throw and Iman Shumpert shot back at the Warriors during their failed rally. Mario leapt at Durant, blocking his 3PT attempt late, and then Kyle O'Quinn posterized lil' Steph Curry for a monstrous dunk, making the free throw, having been fouled by Curry (despite Steph being the one falling to the hardwood). Hezonja took the load off Leonard in this game, The Claw finishing with only 16 points.

A/N: A power outage took place just after the game ended, wiping out all memory of stats... 😶

Western Conference Finals - Spurs subdue Warriors, 87-106. (2-0)

Patty Mills & Kawhi Leonard were a tough duo to beat tonight.

The Spurs held the Warriors to under 100 points, a daunting feat by itself. The win included another solid showing by Kawhi Leonard, collaborating with Patty Mills on sharp passes, exchanging smart 3PT attempts.

Golden State got within striking distance a few times, shooting better than in Game 1, but mostly due to the strong play by Kevin Durant. However, the Spurs led 67-47 at halftime and 78-63 going into the final quarter. San Antonio's defense was key, forcing steals and forming opportunities on the fast break to the delight of the home crowd, watching its team go up 2-0 in the series.

Strategy in hand, Coach Kerr called a timeout, but Davis Bertans swiped the ball from Kevin Durant and hit a 3PTer to tighten the knot in the collective gut of Golden State. Mills hit another 3PTer to give the Spurs a 102-80 lead.

The Spurs held the Warriors scoring low again, by ten more points too, making a worrisome streak for the Warriors that are used to scoring easily in triple digits. Kawhi Leonard connected with Jeremy Lamb on a 3PTer, swiping the ball from Golden State, winning the second quarter 32-19. San Antonio one-upped in shooting percentage from the field tonight, also winning rebounds and defensive plays. Kawhi finished with a strong 27 points, a double-double of 10 rebounds, with 5 steals. Mills had 20 points, making four three-pointers. Rudy Gay had 15 points and 10 rebounds with four steals of his own, as Iman Shumpert chipped in 13 points with 2 steals. Jeremy Lamb and Pau Gasol combined for 18 points, aided by Bismack Biyombo's 8 rebounds and 2 blocks.

"We're homeward bound now. It's all good," Curry told reporters.

Durant finished with 23 points, but just 2-8 from long range. Steph Curry had just 16 points, dishing out 6 assists on 6/18 shooting. Klay Thompson went 3-8 in a quiet night, chased by Leonard all game long in switches. Draymond Green put together 11 points and 12 rebounds, a solid double-double.

The series now shifts to California in the Bay Area, with Golden State looking to make a comeback, lest they take on the hardship of a potential 0-3 deficit. The Spurs will look to do just that, knowing the psychological and practical power that a 3-0 advantage gives a team in a series. Even if things get tight again like we saw in the OKC Thunder match-up, San Antonio takes comfort in knowing it only needs to win 2 more out of the following five games to hoist the Western Conference crown, whereas the Warriors would need to best the Spurs in four of those five games, no easy task.

Western Conference Finals: Spurs top Warriors, 97-115 (1-0)

The Western Conference Finals shall be a compelling collision course.

Some things are just meant to be, year after year. For the Spurs, that would mean defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals. Those same Cavaliers are now facing the Toronto Raptors for the Crown of the East, having defeated the Boston Celtics 4-2. It is a crown that King James hasn't relinquished in eight seasons. For the defending champions, however, one constant in the western conference is the always-daunting and ever-more-so task of having to defeat the Golden State Warriors, who have just bested their newest foe, the Houston Rockets, 4-3, to meet the Spurs.

There can be only one king of the west...will it be the #1 or #2 seed?

Well, in Game 1...

Kawhi Leonard had 30 points and made some key defensive plays, freeing his perimeter shot on the one-man fast break when he wasn’t in dunk mode. The Spurs held an uneasy fifteen point lead for most of the game, before the lead grew and Golden State conceded this first meeting.

A strong 2nd quarter of 35-24 got the Spurs in control, nabbing 9 steals overall, with Rudy Gay having a solid night of 22 points and 3 of those steals. Pau Gasol had 15 points with 9 rebounds; Iman Shumpert had eleven, Davis Bertans contributed ten points and Bismack Biyombo had 10 rebounds. In the losing road effort, Steph Curry had 25 points with 8 assists, Kevin Durant had 18 points with 10 rebounds and Klay Thompson had 17 points, but shot just 8/22 on the night. The Spurs committed just two turnovers.

Spurs survive in OKC, 117-113, eliminate Thunder (4-2).

The Spurs did just enough to finish this series, 4-2.

In an exciting close to this fierce series, the Spurs were able to cross the finish line, courtesy of strong team play, solid defense, and Patty Mills making some big shots from long range down the stretch. Mills had just 13 points but hit hard when it hurt the worst for OKC. Kawhi Leonard had another huge outing with 49 points, 5 steals on much better shooting than the last time the Spurs were in OKC. Leonard shot 61% and made 5-10 from 3PT range, making two blocks as well.

Iman Shumpert also had a nice game after ghosting since Game 1 & 2 with 18 points on 6/11 shooting with 1 block. Pau Gasol had 10 points and 8 rebounds. Dejounte Murray had 8 points. Bismack Biyombo more than earned his keep with 7 blocks, swatting Westbrook and Carmelo in the clutch. The duo of Leonard and Biyombo swatting after Steven Adams down low put high pressure on the Thunder to overcome the sizable deficit that had accumulated throughout the game.

The Thunder's off-season has now begun, losing 2-4.

The Thunder shot 51% overall, besting the Spurs in that area, but missed four free throws. To San Antonio's fright, the Spurs also missed two free ones in a game that could've had a different victor as a single point divided the two titans of the west at one moment. OKC also dominated the boards 48-36, despite the Spurs utilizing 8 on second chances. The Spurs had 14 blocks as a team, forcing OKC into 16 turnovers and controlling their foul trouble with just two more than OKC committed.

It was a resilient win for the Spurs, as they fell 29-36 after the first quarter, mounting a 35-23 second quarter showing and only losing the fourth by six points, after a solid third quarter stay of 28-23. As his team exits the playoffs, Russell Westbrook had 27 points (making a three-pointer late to get within four points). Unfortunately, that impressive shot was after a turnover caused by Leonard that led to an open 3PT dagger also made by Leonard. Westbrook also had 9 assists in the loss. Paul George had 29 points, keeping OKC in the game lat on 11/17 shooting, making 2/4 from deep with 9 rebounds. Carmelo Anthony shot well but just had 17 points and 7 rebounds. Steven Adams cooled off a bit due to that defensive attention for 10 points and 17 rebounds, his put-back attempts swatted away.

The Spurs, weary and battle-tested, will now face the Warriors (4-3 v. Rockets).

Spurs outlast Thunder via scoring spectacle by Leonard, 118-127. (3-2)

Kawhi Leonard shut down Russell Westbrook. He also scored 60 points.

Kawhi Leonard? Well, he scored 60 points and neutralized Russell Westbrook, carrying the Spurs to a twenty-point lead and holding off OKC's late comeback attempt.

The Claw would not be stopped in this game, showing off the entire repertoire of skills, vowing to minimize the damage done by Westbrook in Game 3 & Game 4 and avoid it if possible. Leonard did quite well in that regard, sneaking several steals on Westbrook for crowd-pleasing jams down the court.

Leonard dropped 22 points in the opening period, making layups at the rim, drawing fouls, dunking over the Thunder players, only seeming to become angrier once the score stayed close, until the Spurs won the 1st Quarter 40-23. The rest of Kawhi's rise came in the 3rd, the Spurs winning that one 37-25. Leonard made seven 3PTers, dished out 5 assists and had a career-high 10 steals.

In the loss, Carmelo Anthony had 26 points. Westbrook also had 26 points but due to Kawhi, 7 turnovers that proved fatal for OKC. Paul George had 16 points on 6/17 shooting. Steven Adams had 18 points and 10 rebounds. For the Spurs, Patty Mills had 13 points on just 5/19 shooting and Bismack Biyombo corralled 13 rebounds and swatted 3 blocks. After another cold night for Shumpert, Jeremy Lamb had 14 points, driving to the rim and making both of his 3PT attempts. Tony Parker had 8 points, Rudy Gay had 7&7; Kyle O'Quinn controlled 10 rebounds with 2 blocks of his own.

Truthfully, if Leonard hadn't taken charge, the Spurs may have lost this game, heading back to OKC with a 3-2 deficit, due to poor play outside of Kawhi. Luckily, he took charge and now the Spurs can close this game out in Game 6...still two games past their desired point of elimination, but better than the alternative that could've been after the two upsetting and shocking losses in OKC.

Westbrook drops 50, Thunder roll past Spurs, 120-131, in OT. (2-2)

Westbrook's passion erupted into 50 points.

Russell Westbrook dropped 50 points on the Spurs by the end of OverTime, as the Thunder shot 51% overall and Westbrook had 25 points at halftime in a game that saw brief moments of control by the Spurs, especially in the closing minutes. Yet again, the Spurs fumbled a win late, despite Patty Mills draining two 3PTers in a row for a 110-101 advantage.

Paul George dunked it home afterward, and then Steven Adams did his own work at the rim. Kawhi Leonard would make both free throws, but Carmelo Anthony would make a layup in traffic and the free throw that followed the foul on the play. Leonard would miss at the buzzer. Despite an early lead in OT, the Spurs went awfully cold from the floor and the Thunder kept rolling on, 19-8, in the extra basketball period.

The Spurs fouled OKC way too much in this game, giving them easy points and making the lead further away. Kawhi Leonard had 37 points but shot poorly on 13/36, making just two threes. Patty Mills went 7/20 for 18 points and 9 rebounds, making just 4/11 from long range. Shumpert had a better game than in Game 3, but still shot just 4/14. Pau Gasol had a weak game, too, spoiling Bismack Biyombo's 13 rebounds and 5 blocks. Mario Hezonja had 15 points.

Russell Westbrook shot 65% overall, refusing to see his team go down 1-3. Steven Adams helped a lot in that endeavor, with 24 points and 10 rebounds, seeing as Paul George only had 20 points and Carmelo Anthony with just 12 points & 12 rebounds.

"We had several chances tonight. I felt we were outplaying them for most of the game. Then, well--we just lost ourselves and now we gotta pay for it," Coach Popovich said after the game, knowing his team now returns home not up 3-1, but tied in a 2-2 series that all but erases the first two major blowouts from the history books.

Thunder top Spurs in touch-and-go climax, 108-112. (2-1)

Paul George's 3PTer gave the Thunder the lead after being down.

OKC controlled most of this game, until the Spurs mounted a huge comeback (39-29 in the 4th Quarter) with Mario Hezonja (18 points, 4/6 3PT), Kawhi Leonard (32 points) and Pau Gasol (24 points). The Spurs stole the lead in the closing minutes, stunning the home crowd. In a seesaw, surprising fashion the Thunder charged ahead of San Antonio once more, with Paul George making a 3PTer in the corner and drawing a foul on the next play, making both free throws. Leonard would make a 3PTer in one last highlight, but by then a 3-0 advantage had escaped the defending champions.

"It was a good shot, sucks..." Mario Hezonja told reporters, dejected and trying to laugh it off, having had a shot on the wing with the Spurs up 105-101 before it all went downhill from there. Leonard had hit a 3PTer to give them the four-point hold, as had Gasol prior in quite the run.

Still up 2-1, the Spurs aim to take a 3-1 lead back to Texas.

In the victory, Paul George had 26 points. Carmelo Anthony had a strong game with 24 points. Russell Westbrook had 22 points, the collaborative juices flowing most in the third quarter (31-18, OKC). The Thunder dominated the glass 53-33, making it hard for the Spurs to stay in the game. Patty Mills had an off night, as did Iman Shumpert...a severe drop-off from the opening tip compared to the duo's proficiency in the first two games.

Spurs pulverize Thunder again, win 107-135 (2-0).

After a season of inconsistenc, Iman Shumpert and Patty Mills have found their touch and confidence shooting the ball. It showed immediately, the two playing well together to start Game 2, with Mills knocking in threes and Shumpert arguably out-shooting Mills from deep. With the sting of Game 1 still fresh, the Thunder found themselves once again down by twenty points before the first quarter even ended.

A one-man army, Russell Westbrook bulldozed his way to 38 points with 9 assists on 17/25 shooting, but his team trailed by nearly 40 points at one moment and ultimately lost by 28. Early, though, Russ dunked past Bismack Biyombo in highlight-worthy action.

Then Shumpert swiped the ball from OKC's leader and drilled a 3PTer on the fast break. Kawhi Leonard and Rudy Gay clogged the passing lanes, intercepting the ball and racing up the court. Stellar passing by the San Antonio Spurs defined this blowout, with fearless shooting by whoever caught a whip pass.

The Spurs up 25-10 early, Shumpert quickly surged to 15 points on 6-6 shooting, Mills with 10. Leonard hit his stepback jumper to cap off a 20-2 run, Biyombo stiffening into a defensive stalwart. The Spurs led 38-17 after the first quarter. OKC mounted a few 8-0 runs in this game, but the Spurs kept firing back airstrikes every time, pounding the Thunder senseless en route to Game 3.

Kawhi Leonard got going in the second quarter for 14 points, dunking it hard and showing his range, utilizing his defensive talent. Kyle O'Quinn gave the Spurs second chances off rebounds, giving Gasol an easy jumper at his trademark spots, and only more Spurs took their pound of flesh from OKC. Dejounte Murray caught fire from long range, scrambling for a loose ball and popping in a 3PTer, then four more, finishing 5-7 and stealing the ball from Westbrook to eventually run out the clock, mercifully so. The lead increased to thirty points after a 14-2 run by the Spurs, due to Davis Bertans and Murray hitting consecutive three-pointers.

Westbrook couldn't overcome the Spurs tonight.

The Spurs led 74-44 at halftime, another strong first half scoring feat. Pau Gasol swatted Carmelo's shot away at the buzzer.

To begin the 3rd quarter, Murray's behind-the-back pass gave Shumpert another 3PT bomb. Mario Hezonja did well at the PF position in this game, taking it right to Anthony and speeding past him, drawing fouls and making a 3PTer on the wing, the Spurs leading 97-65 in mountainous fashion.

Paul George hit a 3PTer to end the third quarter, but it was folly.

A 10-2 run by the Spurs followed, Westbrook slipped and Mills was open for 3...again. Gasol got hit hard by Adams but made the layup and the following free throw, 122-88, SA. The Spurs shot 57% and 47% from 3PT territory, missing only one free throw (11-12), forcing 20 turnovers by OKC. Iman Shumpert led the way with 21 points, making a handful of 3PT shots, crafting 6 assists on 80% (8/10) shooting with 2 steals and 1 block. Murry had 19 points and 1 steal on 6/9 shooting. Kawhi Leonard also had 19 points, once more sitting out the 4th Quarter with the victory in-hand. He had 5 steals on 7/10 shooting. Patty Mills was deadly for 18 points, making a quartet from deep. Pau Gasol had 14 points and 7 rebounds, Mario Hezonja had 13 and Bismack Biyombo had 11 points with 10 rebounds and 5 blocks.

In the brutal defeat, Paul George had 16 points, Patrick Patterson had 15 points and Carmelo Anthony had 11 points. Steven Adams had 8 points with 10 rebounds. OKC shot 56%, hoping it can carry some positive qualities home as they host the next two games in this series.

Patty Mills explodes for career-high 48 points; Spurs crush Thunder, 98-123. (1-0)

Patty Mills scored a career-high 48 points.

Highlight of the night? Patty Mills scoring 48 points and splashing in eleven three-pointers with six assists.

Both the OKC Thunder and San Antonio Spurs went for the other's throat after the tip-off, with Paul George dropping two 3PTers in the first ten seconds, and slick passing by the Spurs answering back with dunks by Bismack Biyombo. Everybody going at their man, a dunk past Biyombo by Carmelo Anthony...

Then the downpour began and never really stopped.

Already with 10 points, Patty Mills started the second quarter with another 3PTer, the Spurs now up 42-31. Russell Westbrook attempted to answer back with moderate success, but Mills kept pouring it on, surging from 18 points to a full-on 30 points by halftime. He made one 3PTer over two OKC defenders, and then hit another one on the fast break in the final seconds. Mills shot 12-19 with 5-9 from downtown.

Like clockwork, Patty struck again to open the second half from long distance, followed by Iman Shumpert showing the touch. Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard chipped in, swiping some steals as the Spurs lead grew to twenty courtesy of an 8-0 run. Leonard would splash in a three, and so would Rudy Gay, San Antonio's lead now a towering inferno of 92-71 heading into the final quarter.

Jeremy Lamb would knock in a 3PTer, double teams would lead to easy passes by Mills to Davis Bertans, and Russell Westbrook would keep facing the sentinel down low in Bismack Biyombo, blocked hard at the basket, outlet to Mills for yet another...

Patty Mills entered his own world on the hardwood tonight, aflame by the game's end. The Spurs closed out the game on an impressive 12-0 flurry, winning 98-123, holding OKC under 100 points. In the loss, Westbrook had 20 points with 9 assists on just 7-20 shooting. Meanwhile, the Spurs shot 20-45 from 3PT territory, winning every quarter, shooting 53% with 29 assists as a team. Shumpert finished with 11 points, making a trio of long range bombs. Kawhi Leonard had 19 points, comfortably sitting out the final period with 7 assists and 4 steals. Rudy Gay had 11 points; Bismack Biyombo had 10 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks on the night. Lamb chipped in nine.

For OKC, Paul George had 22 points with 7 rebounds, Andre Roberson had fifteen and Carmelo went 4/14 on the floor, backed up by a double-double from Steven Adams of 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Spurs prep for OKC Thunder series; Season Recap

Leonard and Westbrook will lead their teams into a clash.

The bitter memory of a blowout defeat in their final meeting this season lingers for the Spurs, who must construct a battle strategy to not only contend, but handle and overcome the trio of Westbrook, George & Anthony with Adams.

As the Spurs wait for the other matches to end and for Game 1 to arrive, they also recall the acclaim received by Kawhi Leonard, who finished 3rd in MVP votes, the award ultimately going to his foe LeBron James, Bismack Biyombo for placing highly in both the Most Improved Player and Defensive Player of the Year races. Coach Popovich did win the Coach of the Year, as the Spurs went 67-15 on the season, ten games ahead of the rival Warriors (57-25).

MVP, LeBron James, aims to lead Cavaliers to Finals

It will be a tough series, no doubt, most definitely more contentious than the series with Portland. Luckily, the Spurs will have home court advantage throughout the playoffs as the championship runs through San Antonio, as it has for the past seven seasons, with it only eluding the Spurs once.

Unlike last season, the San Antonio Spurs--should they survive the Thunder--will only have to take on one of the two other juggernauts of the western conference because the Houston Rockets will have already faced the Golden State Warriors, with only one titan left standing, while San Antonio duels against OKC.

Regarding the Eastern Conference, the Cavaliers are no longer the favorite to reach the Finals, with both the Celtics and Raptors taking a step further this season. But it will come down to whom bests whom, yet the Cavaliers' time may be ending. Rumors abound of LeBron possibly moving elsewhere this summer, and who could blame him? After all, the Cavaliers have lost the past four finals to the Spurs, getting swept the past two times and only winning 1 of 5 in the year after LeBron returned to Cleveland.

Spurs eye 2nd round, eliminate Blazers 111-108 (4-0).

Kawhi Leonard bailed out the Spurs to get the sweep.

Kawhi Leonard rose to the challenge, hitting two back-to-back 3PTers and swiping the ball in-between to stave off a Blazers run in the 3rd Quarter that saw Portland go up by ten in a game which San Antonio had struggled to score. The score close again at 71-75, the Spurs took a breath and prepared for the final quarter.

There was not much in the highlight department, as San Antonio shot just 41% and made just nine shots from long range. Patty Mills sparked a pull-ahead with two 3PTers on the fast break, which saw the Spurs go up by nine, enough breathing room to hold off the Blazers.

Just barely though, as Damian Lillard spun past Leonard, dunked past Biyombo and avoided Gasol's outstretched arm, slamming the ball through the net. The Blazers called timeout once Biyombo made both free throws to give San Antonio a four-point lead, then Mo Harkless (23 points) hit a 3PTer, forcing Kawhi Leonard to get the inbound, breathe deep, and make two clutch free throws. CJ McCollum missed the final attempt from deep, the shot falling short off the rim, as O'Quinn pulled down the rebound as time expired.

"By the skin of our teeth," Coach Popovich described his team's victory, and impressive sweep of the Blazers. "I liked how we won the last the three games more," he joked. "They put up one hell of a fight tonight, and they should be proud of their hard work this season. Now, our work continues..."

Damian Lillard finished with 21 points on 50% shooting, McCollum had 22 points on 50% shooting--just too late in the series, but at least they finally had a strong showing. For San Antonio, Pau Gasol came up big with 19 points. Biyombo laid claim to the glass for 17 rebounds with 4 blocks. Kawhi Leonard had 26 points, going 10/20 and 3/7 from 3PT distance. He also had 5 steals.

Patty Mills had 12 points; Jeremy Lamb the same; Kyle O'Quinn had 10 points with 7 rebounds. Dejounte Murray had 8 assists. In the loss, Portland had 15 turnovers (mostly during the early going). San Antonio lost control in the second quarter (19-31) after winning the first quarter 29-18, setting up the close finish, the final half separated by just four points.

Leonard's fury carries Spurs to win despite late push by Portland, 114-105. (3-0)

Kawhi Leonard had 26 points in just the first half.

The Blazers looked somewhat recovered from the beating they received in Game 2, scoring well early, but then Kawhi Leonard took control for 19 points in the first quarter; the Spurs led 34-22 after one, with the crowd on the receiving end of a 3PTer at the buzzer by The Claw.

Midway through the 2nd Quarter, the Spurs were up by fifteen only for Patty Mills to enter the game, steal the ball and hit a three-pointer by his lonesome on the fast break. An aggressive drive to the rim by Davis Bertans put the Spurs up 54-33, leading 67-51 at halftime in another high-scoring display by the Spurs.

After a dismal third quarter, the Blazers finally made a valiant rally due to a hot streak by Lillard (32 points, 11 assists, 61% FG) & McCollum (6/10 3PT, 24pts). The closest Portland got was 105-111, until a zip pass by Parker to Gasol led to a dunk that calmed the crowd for good. Caleb Swanigan had 15 points and 16 rebounds for Portland, and Nurkic had 11 rebounds. For the Spurs, Kawhi finished with 33 points, endlessly double-teamed after his first half surge. Portland actually won the battle of assists and rebounds, but didn't have enough to overcome the Spurs.

Dejounte Murray had 12 points and 8 assists, Mills had 10 points, Rudy Gay neared a double-double with 8 points and 10 rebounds and Pau Gasol had 12 points. Now up 3-0, it looks like a sweep may be in order. The Spurs would then face the winner of the OKC Thunder/Minnesota Timberwolves series.

Spurs annihilate Trailblazers in Game 2, 99-139 (2-0).

Rudy Gay had a game-high 32 points in this massive blowout.

In unexpected fashion, Jeremy Lamb and Rudy Gay caught fire early, up 30-18, scorching-hot to put the Blazers into a giant hole that only got larger. 19 points were scored by Gay in 1st quarter alone on 7-9 shooting, with Lamb's 17 points for good measure (Spurs scored 43 in the quarter).

To their credit, Blazers scored 30 but got behind by that much before long. The Spurs went up 16 early to start 2nd QTR, then a 56-32 advantage erupted due to a 14-2 run. Soon Lamb had 20, Kawhi Leonard poured in shots from 3PT range before bowing out of the game, his team soon up 68-44.

Blazers star Damian Lillard was smothered, airballing a 3PTer, having gone 3-10 in first half. Lillard would score 24 points overall to spark a late 4th Quarter run, but on 9-26 shooting.

The Spurs made 19 three-pointers, including some from Davis Bertans who lit up Portland for 22 points. The score once read 75-48, with the Spurs up 27 points at halftime, making 10 three-pointers as a team by that mark--a 75-point first half performance! Spurs shot 56% in the first half.

The firestorm just kept pouring on Portland, forced to endue a Spurs 11-0 run, featuring a 3PTer hit by Gasol & two knockout blows by Bertans. Spurs up 95-55 at this point. San Antonio led by as much as 54 points, with Gay still on fire and Kawhi Leonard hitting a stepback jumper to hit the 5-oh! mark. The defense crippled Portland, and their own poor shooting made it worse. Jeremy Lamb caught the ball on an interception and sped up court for a ferocious dunk, the crowd astonished!

Lillard had 20+, but not efficiently, as Portland trailed by 53.

Portland mounted a folly double-team response, leading to an easy dunk for Gasol, then a 3PTer by Iman Shumpert capped a 15-7 run, up 106-64. Yet another 3PTer by Dejounte Murray (12 points) for 109-64 lead. The Spurs won the second quarter, 35-18, and the 3rd 39-18. They finished on 51% shooting, 100% from the charity stripe, claiming 11 offensive rebounds and dominance of 47-35 overall, sharing 25 assists with only 4 turnovers as a unit, nabbing 10 steals and brutalizing Portland with 17 fouls.

Gasol, Shumpert and Murray were 2/2 from long range, 6/6 overall, and Kawhi & Lamb only missed one a piece, combining for 7/9 overall. Bismack Biyombo and Kyle O'Quinn combined for 19 rebounds and 3 blocks. Lamb finished with 22 points. Leonard had 13 and Shumpert had 11. In the crushing defeat, Jusuf Nurkic had 18 points. Mo Harkless had 15 points. McCollum had 14 points on 4/11 shooting, going 2/8 from long range. Lillard was a sad, one-man army out there.

Late run propels Spurs past Blazers in Game 1, 103-112. (1-0)

On the heels of a tepid season finale win over the Pelicans in N'awlins, the defending champions San Antonio Spurs hustled themselves to a 1-0 lead in this first round series that saw the Portland Trailblazers climb within a single point late, but it was not to be, as Jeremy Lamb (21 points) and Kawhi Leonard made huge shots in the clutch. The energy exhibited by Pau Gasol and Bismack Biyombo granted the Spurs second chances as the score was tight in the second half.

To start the game, Portland looked more fluent but the home team rallied ahead, scoring 38 points to Portland's 27. The second quarter saw the Trailblazers storm back 35-27, making it 65-62 at halftime. CJ McCollum went 3-15 from the field, however, showing the strategy paying off by the Spurs to let him shoot and locking down Damian Lillard instead, scoring just 10 points and going 0-5 from long range.

The Spurs offense was more fluent in this game, getting up 20 more shots than the Blazers.

Kawhi Leonard had 21 points with 3 steals and 2 blocks, shooting just 9/22 but making shots when it mattered most. Bismack Biyombo had a strong game with 12 points, 14 rebounds and 3 blocks, going 100% from the field (6-6). Patty Mills had 6 assists with 13 points, making three long shots. For Portland, Damian Lillard had 21 points. Rudy Gay had 11 points with 7 rebounds. San Antonio won the boards 49-37 and had three more assists as a team, notching 10 blocks and 11 steals. To its credit, Portland had 6 blocks and 7 steals also, but had more turnovers (12-9).

Jeremy Lamb had four 3PTers and missed only two shots, nabbing a steal and racing up the court for a nice dunk late. This series should be competitive, though, as both teams play it physical.

Leonard deconstructs Warriors for Spurs victory, 93-108.

Kawhi Leonard put on a show in the final five minutes.

Kawhi Leonard demolished the Warriors in the final five minutes of this game, hitting a fadeaway over Andre Iguodala, grabbing his own rebound for a tip-in, making a step-back 3PTer over Kevin Durant, blocking Durant's mid-range jumper and blitzing on the fast break, catching a pass from Iman Shumpert, pushing off on Draymond Green and hitting another step-back 3PTer, the ball rattling in for an 88-100 lead with 90 seconds to play. Leonard would hit another 3PTer after a block by Bismack Biyombo on Kevin Durant, knocking KD to the court, leaving Kawhi open.

It was a sight to behold, and a refreshing one at that, after Golden State trimmed a double-digit lead to within 3 points. During the game, the Spurs led 37-26, 78-68 and 81-72 after the third quarter. The Warriors pulled off one of their trademark runs in the 2nd Quarter to lead 55-54 at halftime. Both teams were shooting 6-13 and 8-17 from long range, 50% and 45% overall.

San Antonio seized the victory 93-108 as The Claw drew a foul in the final seconds, making the shot at the basket, showered with M-V-P chants by the happy home crowd. A feel-good victory for the Spurs here, who now move to 60 wins on the season, comfortably ahead of the Warriors (49-22). Leonard finished with 41 points from eight 3PTers with 4 steals and 2 blocks (both on Durant).

Only one will win the western conference finals.

 Iman Shumpert was the early spark for the Spurs, notching 15 points before halftime and scoring more in the fourth quarter for 24 points overall with 4 steals off four 3PTers. Rudy Gay made two long shots, with 9 rebounds, 1 steal for 12 points on 5/5 shooting. Pau Gasol had 12 points and 10 rebounds, provider of several second chance opportunities for the Spurs to pull ahead, and maker of two 3PTers. Bismack Biyombo had 14 rebounds to go with 7 blocks, taking up the mantel as Kyle O'Quinn's early defensive play was disappointing. Patty Mills had a cold night on 1/9 shooting from 3PT range, but still managed 7 points and 5 assists, scoring inside when the game was still tight.

For the Warriors, it was not a good night. Steph Curry went 7/20 and also 1/9 from long range for 16 points, despite being open more than once. Klay Thompson was the high man with 21 points, making a trio of bombs. Kevin Durant, smothered all game long, had 14 points in a poor showing on 5/16 shooting despite some thrilling dunks over Gasol and Biyombo. Andre Iguodala had 14 points and played distributor in that profitable 2nd Quarter. Draymond Green had a quiet night with just 6 points and 7 rebounds, going 3/8. Zaza Pachulia had 11 points with 12 rebounds. The Warriors shot 30% from 3PT distance, with the Spurs making 18 of their own, winning the boards 48-39 with an impressive 13 offensive rebounds (due to Gasol). Both teams combined for 18 turnovers, showing their efficiency for 38 assists total.

When next these Top 2 seeds meet it will be epic...again. Who will win the west?

Spurs recuperate with controlled effort in Houston, 102-84.

Pau Gasol led the Spurs to 100 points--and a win.

A blind man may have enjoyed the game just as much as all those doomed to spectate from the stands, with both San Antonio and Houston transforming the entire court into an ice rink from long range shooting, as both teams combined for 14-70 deficiency. The Spurs "won" that column, the most remarkable 3PTers coming from Iman Shumpert and Pau Gasol, the two tough players leading the Spurs to victory in this war of attrition.

The Spurs shot 46% to Houston's 37%, and James Harden had possibly his worst game of the season with just 13 points on 4/18 shooting, going 2/9 from long range. Kawhi Leonard didn't have a good game either, going 5/13 for 13 points and 1/5 from long range. Coach Pop pulled him out after just 14 minutes in the game, once the Rockets were down 59-79 after the 3rd quarter.

San Antonio didn't look likely to eclipse 100 points in this dismal display, but then Pau Gasol got the ball (mostly because no other Spur wanted it anymore) and showed off his post-up prowess. He finished with 19 points on 8/9 shooting, including that 3PT dagger to mercy-kill the Rockets.

James Harden shot 4/18 tonight, missing wide open chances.

A badly needed win, the Spurs did look better as a unit on the court. Iman Shumpert finished with 12 points, making three 3PTers. Jeremy Lamb had 10 points; Kyle O'Quinn got the start for 9 points and 6 rebounds. Patty Mills made two 3PTers for 8 points with 5 rebounds and 6 assists. Rudy Gay had 8 points, as Tony Parker notched 7 points also making a 3PTer. Bismack Biyombo stifled Harden at the rim twice for 4 total blocks, 7 rebounds and 6 points--including a monstrous jam over Harden. Dejounte Murray connected with Pau Gasol for a nice alley-oop slam late in the 4th quarter.

In the loss, Chris Paul had 16 points; Clint Capela had 14 points with 7 rebounds. Eric Gordon had 13 points on 5/12 shooting. Trevor Ariza not much better with 10 points on 5/13 shooting, going 0/6 from long range. The Spurs led 29-18 after the first quarter and it was that kind of game, with San Antonio polishing the glass 52-39. They beat Houston up for 21 fouls, stopping them from getting into a rhythm. Both teams, despite the cold spell, only combined for 15 turnovers and distributed 20 assists respectively. This win stops the three-game skid that brought the Spurs loss column into double-digits.

Spurs stagger in OKC, lose third straight (95-113)

Kawhi Leonard had another icy outing, despite 24 points yet on 10/28 shooting, and the Thunder had anything but in this stop-start blowout.

Defensive fervor just wasn’t there by the Spurs, evident as OKC jammed in dunk after dunk, especially Russell Westbrook (23 points, 6 rebounds, 14 assists). San Antonio mounted a decent comeback, but OKC sped away with the lead again for good, winning the 4th Quarter 26-15, a fitting bookend to their 37-23 dominance in the 2nd Quarter that first blew the game wide open.

Meanwhile, the Spurs shot just 38% to OKC's 55%, going an icy 17% from long range. The Thunder dominated the boards 58-33 as a result, despite committing 19 turnovers overall. Paul George had 22 points with 8 rebounds, making a trio of long range shots. Steven Adams delivered 18 points and 15 rebounds. Patrick Patterson had 10 points and 8 rebounds. Raymond Felton had 10 points off the bench, with Carmelo giving 9 points.

Patty Mills went 3/12, spoiling Kyle O'Quinn's delightful effort of 16 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks. Rudy Gay had 16 points and 7 rebounds on 5/11 shooting with 4 steals.