NBA Playoffs: San Antonio Spurs Headed Back to Finals After Completing Sweep

May 27, 2013; Memphis, TN, USA; San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker (9) drives past Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley (11) in the fourth quarter of game four of the Western Conference finals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at FedEx Forum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

San Antonio Spurs 93 Memphis Grizzlies 86

 How San Antonio Won: In games 2 and 3, it was Tim Duncan who carried the Spurs to victory.  This time, Tony Parker stepped up.  Parker shot a remarkable 15 for 21 from the field, en route to 37 points and dishing out 6 assists.

Up by 10 at the end of the first quarter, San Antonio held the lead for most of the game. The Spurs shot 51 percent from the field for the game, and dominated the paint, having a 52-32 edge in points in the paint.

Parker was in a zone all game, but had to leave the game in the fourth quarter when he got poked in the eye by Marc Gasol.  He was able to return with just under 5 minutes remaining, and hit an 18-foot jumper on his first possession.

Duncan added 15 points and 8 assists, and Kawhi Leonard scored 11 points.  The sweep marks the first Conference Finals sweep since the New Jersey Nets accomplished the feat in 2003 over the Detroit Pistons.

San Antonio will now head to the Finals for the first time since 2007, when they swept the Cleveland Cavaliers to win their third title in nine years.

 How Memphis Lost:  Just like in game 3, the Grizzlies came out and gave it their all, but it just wasn’t enough.  While they had the edge in board, 41-34, Memphis was beat at their own game as they were dominated in the paint, and lead just once in the game.

 Quincy Pondexter scored a playoff career high 22 points off the bench, while Marc Gasol added 14 points and 5 rebounds.  But the big guns for Memphis did not step up offensively: Mike Conley was held to 9 points and 7 assists, and Zach Randolph, who struggled all series, added just 13 points and 8 assists.  Both players shot 4 for 13 from the field each.

The Grizzlies made one last run in the fourth quarter, and cut the deficit to 89-86 with 48 seconds remaining.  But Parker made four free throws, and a Jerryd Bayless shot was blocked by Tiago Splitter that helped seal the win for the Spurs.

 It Was Over When: After a pair of free throws made by Parker with 30 seconds remaining that stretched the lead to five, the Grizzlies needed a quick score on their ensuing possession.  But Splitter was able to get a hand on a Bayless jumper, and Parker sank two more free throws to complete the sweep.

 Quote of the Night:  “It’s a great feeling.”  -Tony Parker 

Box Score:

San Antonio Spurs

STARTERS

MIN

FGM-A

3PM-A

FTM-A

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

+/-

PTS

35

7-15

0-0

1-1

0

8

8

1

1

4

1

2

+4

15

38

5-7

1-2

0-0

1

5

6

1

5

0

1

2

+13

11

30

4-8

0-0

1-1

1

1

2

3

1

4

1

3

+8

9

40

15-21

1-1

6-6

0

4

4

6

0

0

4

1

0

37

27

2-6

1-2

0-0

1

2

3

2

2

0

1

3

+1

5

BENCH

MIN

FGM-A

3PM-A

FTM-A

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

+/-

PTS

11

1-4

0-3

0-0

1

2

3

1

0

0

0

5

-2

2

20

2-5

0-0

0-0

0

2

2

3

0

0

0

3

+5

4

7

0-1

0-1

0-0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

-4

0

7

2-3

0-1

0-0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

1

+2

4

25

1-6

0-3

4-5

0

6

6

6

0

0

6

4

+8

6

DNP COACH’S DECISION

DNP COACH’S DECISION

DNP COACH’S DECISION

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

36

4-13

0-0

5-8

4

4

8

0

1

1

2

3

-9

13

17

3-8

0-2

2-2

1

3

4

0

0

0

1

2

-20

8

41

5-12

0-0

4-5

0

5

5

5

1

3

4

4

-7

14

38

4-13

0-2

1-2

1

5

6

7

0

0

3

1

-14

9

27

2-9

0-0

0-0

5

3

8

2

2

0

0

5

-7

4

BENCH

MIN

FGM-A

3PM-A

FTM-A

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

+/-

PTS

18

4-8

0-0

0-0

4

2

6

2

0

1

1

1

+4

8

34

7-11

3-6

5-7

1

2

3

1

2

0

1

1

+4

22

24

3-10

2-4

0-0

0

1

1

2

1

0

1

4

+15

8

4

0-2

0-0

0-0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

-1

0

DNP COACH’S DECISION

DNP COACH’S DECISION

DNP COACH’S DECISION

DNP COACH’S DECISION

TOTALS

FGM-A

3PM-A

FTM-A

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

PTS