LOS ANGELES — The San Antonio Spurs mowed down another opponent, using their guile under pressure to close out another perfect playoff series. LOS ANGELES — The San Antonio Spurs mowed down another opponent, using their guile under pressure to
LOS ANGELES — The San Antonio Spurs mowed down another opponent, using their guile under pressure to close out another perfect playoff series.
Tim Duncan scored 21 points, Tony Parker added 17, and the Spurs beat the Los Angeles Clippers 102-99 on Sunday night to win their second-round matchup 4-0 and advance to the Western Conference finals.
“They played great; they made it tough on us,” Parker said. “The last 2 minutes we got the stops we needed. Everybody did something.”
The Spurs extended their winning streak to 18 games and their playoff record to 8-0, tying the third-best postseason streak in franchise history.
“Until we go all the way, I can’t compare this team,” said Parker, who has won three NBA titles with the Spurs. “We’re just trying to stay focused.”
Danny Green and Gary Neal added 14 points each, and Manu Ginobili and Thiago Splitter had 11 each.
“We needed a game like that. It arrived at the perfect time,” Parker said. “We battled. We executed our plays, made big baskets.”
San Antonio could find out as soon as today who it will play next. Oklahoma City leads the Lakers 3-1 in their series, with Game 5 today.
“We haven’t done anything yet. We’ve won two rounds,” Duncan said. “We haven’t done anything, so you can’t qualify or classify our team as anything other than that we’ve gotten this far.”
The Spurs trailed much of the fourth until tying the game twice in the final 3:32 before their 30-something trio of Duncan, Parker and Ginobili took over most of the scoring.
“Their experience showed with their execution,” Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro. “Tim looks great, and the rest of the guys are feeding off that.”
Chris Paul had 23 points and 11 assists, Blake Griffin added 21 points, and Eric Bledsoe had 17 for the Clippers, who blew a six-point lead in the fourth quarter when Paul faltered in the final 2 minutes, usually a time when the All-Star guard is at his best.
Spurs 102, Clippers 99
SAN ANTONIO (102)
Leonard 2-5 1-1 5, Duncan 9-14 3-3 21, Diaw 0-3 2-4 2, Parker 5-13 7-9 17, Green 5-9 1-2 14, Ginobili 4-9 3-4 11, Splitter 5-7 1-2 11, Jackson 1-1 0-0 2, Bonner 2-4 0-0 5, Neal 5-7 2-2 14. Totals 38-72 20-27 102.
L.A. CLIPPERS (99)
Butler 3-8 0-0 6, Griffin 9-20 3-3 21, Jordan 4-7 2-4 10, Paul 9-18 3-3 23, Foye 2-6 4-6 8, Williams 3-7 1-1 7, Young 1-4 0-0 3, Martin 1-2 0-0 2, Bledsoe 8-10 0-0 17, Evans 0-0 0-2 0, Simmons 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 41-86 13-19 99.
San Antonio 26 25 23 28 — 102
L.A. Clippers 21 26 28 24 — 99
3-Point Goals—San Antonio 6-15 (Green 3-5, Neal 2-3, Bonner 1-1, Diaw 0-1, Leonard 0-2, Ginobili 0-3), L.A. Clippers 4-16 (Paul 2-5, Bledsoe 1-1, Young 1-3, Foye 0-1, Williams 0-2, Simmons 0-2, Butler 0-2). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—San Antonio 48 (Duncan 9), L.A. Clippers 44 (Jordan 8). Assists—San Antonio 28 (Parker 5), L.A. Clippers 22 (Paul 11). Total Fouls—San Antonio 22, L.A. Clippers 22. Technicals—Leonard, Butler, Paul. A—19,060 (19,060).
