Then, in the heat of the moment, Buddy Hield got the Spurs within 2-PTS & Fred VanVleet hit a 3PT bomb to take the lead in the final minute of this furious showdown. On the next possession, VanVleet swiped the ball free for the uncontested layup, giving the Spurs a long-awaited three-point advantage. Golden State managed to get a shot off against the fierce San Antonio defensive swarm, but Andrew Wiggins' shot fell short and Otto Porter iced the game at the free throw line.
The Spurs never give up and never surrender. They've pulled off heroic, staggering comebacks over the years, and tonight was another one for the history books. They outscored Golden State 50-31 in the 4th Quarter, after getting crushed in the 2nd Quarter, 42-31 and trailing by 17 points going into the final quarter. They even had 14 turnovers to Golden State's 13, but they never gave up.
Dejounte Murray put on a virtuoso performance of 31 points, 8 rebounds & 16 assists. Brandon Ingram had 23 points & 9 rebounds. Fred VanVleet scored 20 with 3 steals, including the series-clinching defensive highlight play, hitting six 3PT bombs. Buddy Hield had 20, hitting six more, and Otto Porter had 19, hitting 5-8, including clutch shots late during the fierce road rally by the defending, dynastic champions.
The Big Penguin had 20 rebounds with 17 points, 3 steals & 4 blocks: Drummond had a huge dunk late to trim the lead as the clock continued to wind down for San Antonio's comeback hopes. San Antonio could've called it a loss, recuperated for Game 5 at home. But nope, they kept firing away, hitting 20 threes to 14 by Golden State. They even missed 10 free throws as a team, which nearly spelled a demoralizing defeat, but the Spurs never say die. Now, they move on to face the Los Angeles Lakers.
"Yeah, he does that sometimes," Murray said post-game of VanVleet. "Not afraid of the moment, and he can kill ya on both ends of the court. As y'all just witnessed." The worst part about Golden State's deflating defeat tonight was Steph Curry & Kevon Looney fouling out, further insult to injury once the Spurs had taken the lead. San Antonio smothered Klay Thompson with a double-team, daring anyone else to beat them, once they finally, somehow, regained control.