NBA Playoffs: Spurs Take 1-0 Lead After Drubbing of Grizzlies in Game 1

May 19, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker (9) drives to the basket during the second quarter as Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) defends in game one of the Western Conference finals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at AT

San Antonio Spurs 105 Memphis Grizzlies 83

 How San Antonio Won: For the eighth time in the last 15 years, the Spurs are in the Western Conference Finals and cruised for much of the game.  After San Antonio initially burst out to a 17 point lead in the first quarter, the Grizzlies would climb back to a 6 point deficit.  The Spurs then cruised in the fourth quarter and stretched the lead to 21 and closing the win.

Tony Parker lead the way with 20 points and 9 assists, but San Antonio got contributions from their surrounding cast.  Kawhi Leonard scored 18 points and Danny Green added 16 points.  Matt Bonner made four three-pointers off the bench, while Gary Neal chipped in with 11 points.

The Spurs three-point shooting was one of the main reasons they were able to control the opening game.  They shot a franchise-playoff best 14 for 29 (48 percent) for the game, while the Grizzlies made just 5 three-pointers.

 How Memphis Lost: It’s easy to point the finger at Zach Randolph, who finished with just 2 points and 7 rebounds, but the Grizzlies defense was next to non-existent for most of the game.  The Spurs perimeter players, primarily Parker and Manu Ginobili, were able to drive the lanes at ease, opening up the three-point shooting.  The NBA’s number 1 ranked defense seemed exposed against a team that spreads everyone out on offense and focuses primarily on ball movement.  Against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Grizzlies were able to shift their entire defense in the direction of Kevin Durant, but they won’t be able to just key in on any one player in this round.

 Marc Gasol lead the way with 15 points and 7 rebounds, while Mike Conley added 14 points and 8 assists.  Quincy Pondexter scored 17 points off the bench.

 It Was Over When:   After a Jerryd Bayless steal and dunk with under 4 minutes left in the third quarter cut the Spurs lead to 62-56, Ginobili hit a three on the next possession, which helped spark an 11-1 run that pushed the lead to 16.

 Quote of the Night: “I can promise you this: Nobody’s happy in our locker room, because we were up 2-0 (in the West finals) last year and we lost, it’s just one game. It means nothing. We still have a long way to go.” – Tony Parker

Box Score:

Memphis Grizzlies

STARTERS

MIN

FGM-A

3PM-A

FTM-A

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

+/-

PTS

28

1-8

0-0

0-0

3

4

7

0

0

1

1

2

-28

2

29

2-5

0-0

2-4

1

0

1

2

1

0

0

0

-7

6

34

7-16

0-0

1-2

1

6

7

2

1

2

0

3

-12

15

32

5-12

0-0

4-6

0

4

4

8

1

0

4

2

-14

14

25

3-3

0-0

2-2

1

3

4

1

0

0

2

2

-16

8

BENCH

MIN

FGM-A

3PM-A

FTM-A

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

+/-

PTS

12

1-2

0-0

0-0

1

2

3

2

0

1

2

2

-5

2

9

2-5

0-1

0-0

0

1

1

0

0

0

1

0

-7

4

11

1-3

0-0

3-4

2

0

2

0

0

1

0

2

+5

5

5

1-1

0-0

0-0

1

0

1

0

1

0

0

0

0

2

29

6-11

5-9

0-0

0

1

1

0

0

0

2

2

-9

17

21

3-7

0-2

2-2

0

4

4

5

1

1

0

2

-9

8

2

0-1

0-0

0-0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

-2

0

3

0-0

0-0

0-0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

-6

0

TOTALS

FGM-A

3PM-A

FTM-A

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

PTS

San Antonio Spurs

STARTERS

MIN

FGM-A

3PM-A

FTM-A

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

+/-

PTS

27

3-9

0-0

0-0

2

8

10

4

0

2

2

1

+4

6

30

7-10

4-5

0-0

0

2

2

1

2

1

1

0

+9

18

17

0-1

0-0

1-2

0

0

0

2

0

0

1

4

+16

1

33

9-14

0-0

2-2

0

1

1

9

2

0

3

2

+6

20

26

6-9

3-6

1-1

1

3

4

3

0

0

1

2

+28

16

BENCH

MIN

FGM-A

3PM-A

FTM-A

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

+/-

PTS

17

4-7

4-6

0-0

0

2

2

1

0

0

0

1

+11

12

5

2-2

0-0

2-2

1

1

2

1

0

0

0

2

0

6

21

0-2

0-1

2-2

1

0

1

2

0

0

0

3

+11

2

5

1-1

1-1

0-0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

1

0

3

19

5-8

1-4

0-0

0

1

1

1

0

0

1

0

+9

11

12

1-5

0-1

0-0

1

2

3

0

0

0

0

0

+12

2

21

2-6

1-3

3-5

1

4

5

3

1

1

1

2

+2

8

7

0-2

0-2

0-0

0

2

2

0

0

0

1

0

+2

0

TOTALS

FGM-A

3PM-A

FTM-A

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

PTS