Spurs withstand early storm by Memphis, win Game 3 132-116. (3-0)

The Grizzlies came out hot, thirsting for a victory to climb out of an 0-2 hole, but it was not to be, as the Spurs got a 30-piece from Trey Burke, who hit a new career-high 10 shots from 3PT territory (his previous being 8). The Spurs led by 10 after the 1st Quarter, then by 20 at halftime. The Grizzlies tried to come back, but San Antonio controlled the lead until the final buzzer.

For what it's worth, Ja Morant had a much better game with 32 points & 11 assists. Steven Adams had 20 points, 12 rebounds with 3 steals. Jarren Jackson, Jr had 16 points with 3 blocks, but Dillon Brooks shot 5-14 and just 1-5 from 3PT range.

Not far behind Burke was Buddy Hield, who hit 8 threes for 28 points with 3 steals. Brandon Ingram had a solid 21 points with Fred VanVleet's 16 helping maintain the lead. Dejounte Murray had 7 assists, with Drummond scooping up 19 rebounds with 3 blocks.

Memphis now finds themselves in a 0-3 hole, unable to stop San Antonio's perimeter firestorm. The Spurs hit 26 from downtown this time, leading by as many as 23 points, spoiling a nine-turnovers game by Memphis.

Spurs smoke Grizzlies at home, go up 2-0 in Western Conference Finals.

The Grizzlies, who once took San Antonio to a seven-game war, got emphatically stomped in the first two games of the Western Conference Finals, which saw the Spurs hit a team-record 27 3PT shots.

Ja Morant is arguably the more athletic point guard than Dejounte Murray, reminiscent of Murray years ago before the dynasty organization left behind by Tony Parker began to give "DJ" the reins of the future. Memphis would never let Morant go and he can expect a giant payday when his rookie contract ends.

In Game 1, the Spurs scorched Memphis in the opening quarter, 42-21, winning the game 109-128 and leading by as much as 32. Dejounte Murray had 20 points, 7 assists & 7 steals. Trey Burke splashed in 20 points, going 4-5 from deep range. Buddy Hield dropped 18 points, with VanVleet & Ingram combining for 28. Andre Drummond had 14 rebounds. Brandon Clarke had 9 & 7 against his old team. Ja Morant had 14 points, 10 assists, going 5-13 from the field. Desmond Bane scored 18, with Dillon Brooks' 17 points on 6-15 shooting just nowhere near enough to make a run at the upset. Steven Adams devoured the glass for 18 rebounds in defeat.

The Grizzlies did not expect the tenacious defense by the Spurs, however, as they had a staggering 26 turnovers in Game 2. They led by a single point only once in Game 2, losing badly 106-144. This Spurs team is not of the same perimeter shooting caliber as the team Memphis took to 7 Games, and it is already apparent two games into this series for the western conference crown. Memphis is scoring just fine by themselves, but they've got to figure out a way to stop or slow down the Spurs, who had 43 fast break points in Game 2. Morant had an awful 9 turnovers, finishing with 18 points.

Morant did not receive much help from his teammates, with Dillon Brooks having 6 turnovers, three of them coming in the 1st Quarter and on the first possession (since Memphis won both jump balls). Steven Adams continues to be a presence down low, scoring 10 points with 11 rebounds in Game 2. But Jarren Jackson, Jr has done very little to resemble the awesome play that saw this team hand San Antonio one of its only 3 defeats this season. In that game, Jackson, Jr, had 33 points & 11 rebounds with 4 blocks. Jackson had just 8 points in Game 2 and that will not do the job. Jackson had 20 in Game 1.

The Spurs were led by Fred VanVleet, whose 31 points on nine 3PT bombs helped establish dominance early. Buddy Hield contributed 21, with Dejounte Murray nearing a triple-double of 20 points, 6 rebounds, 10 assists & 5 steals. Brandon Ingram had 19 points, with 16 coming from Trey Burke and 26 from Otto Porter, Jr. & Kevin Love. Andre Drummond had 11 rebounds with 3 blocks.

As the series shift to Memphis, the Grizzlies are hoping to play better and resemble that team (which is mostly intact, roster-wise) that took the champions to the brink last season and won that regular season game despite 41 points by Dejounte Murray.

Spurs top Lakers despite streak's end, win 4-1.

A highlight reel double-clutch windmill dunk by Russell Westbrook and a costly turnover by the Spurs spelled doom for the 49-game win streak (extended to 55 if you count the Playoffs), as the Lakers' powerful performance eeked out a 114-118 victory in Game 3. A similar showdown ensued in Game 4, with LA eager to tie the series, but Dejounte Murray made a clutch layup over the defense of Anthony Davis & Dwight Howard to take a 3-1 lead back to Texas. Russell Westbrook got a shot off at the buzzer to tie the game, but missed, ending the season for the Lakers in five games.

The Stats:

Game 1: A forty-point trouncing by the Spurs, 91-131.

Spurs:

Fred VanVleet: 28 points (8 3PTers)

Buddy Hield: 24 points (6 3PTers)

Kevin Love: 19 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists (5 3PTers)

Dejounte Murray: 21 points

Lakers:

Anthony Davis: 24 points

24 turnovers 

Game 2: Spurs win a close one, 114-120

Brandon Ingram: 22 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists

Fred VanVleet: 19 points (5 threes)

Buddy Hield: 19 points (5 threes)

Dejounte Murray 15 points (4-14 FG), 5 steals

Kevin Love: 12 rebounds, 13 points)

Lakers:

LeBron James: 20 points, 14 rebounds, 8 assists

Russell Westbrook: 19 points

Anthony Davis: 17 points, 10 rebounds, 6 blocks

Malik Monk: 15 points

Game 3: Lakers hold off Spurs, 114-118

Buddy Hield: 28 points, 8 3PTers

Dejounte Murray: 24 points, 6 steals

Brandon Ingram: 19 points

Lakers

Anthony Davis: 33 points, 15 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks

LeBron James: 26 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists

Russell Westbrook: 20 points, 7 assists

Game 4: 122-117 as Spurs go up 3-1

Anthony Davis: 28 points, 11 rebounds

Russell Westbrook: 20 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists

LeBron James: 17 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists

Trevor Ariza: 17 points

Spurs

Dejounte Murray: 26 points

Fred VanVleet: 23 points, 7 assists (7 threes)

Brandon Ingram: 21 points

Buddy Hield: 17 points

Game 5: Spurs finish series, 123-126, lead by 26 throughout

Buddy Hield: 35 points (11 3PTers)

Fred VanVleet: 20 points (6 3PTers)

Otto Porter, Jr.: 17 points (5 3PTers)

Dejounte Murray: 16 points, 18 assists, 4 steals

Andre Drummond: 10 points, 17 rebounds 

Lakers

Anthony Davis: 31 points, 15 rebounds

LeBron James: 19 points, 13 rebounds

Malik Monk: 15 points

Russell Westbrook: 13 points, 13 assists (5-14 FG)

Spurs steal Game 4 with tenacious comeback sweep, 142-137 (4-0).

Klay Thompson came out firing, hitting 5 three pointers (21 points), Andrew Wiggins finished with 22 points & 8 rebounds, Jordan Poole had 18 off the bench, Draymond Green had a triple-double (13 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists) & Steph Curry scored 25 points with 9 assists.

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.

Curry's arctic stroke dooms Warriors, 132-107 (3-0).

Klay Thompson tried to rally the home team with 22 points, but nothing could overcome a 3-17 shooting night by Steph Curry (7 points, 6 rebounds, 10 assists, 5 turnovers, 1-7 3PT). The Warriors won the 1st Quarter, 36-29, but it was all downhill from there, losing the rest of the game, 103-71.

Dejounte Murray started tonight, back to form, scoring 26 points with 6 assists & 4 steals. Brandon Ingram showed his wingspan by nabbing 10 rebounds, with 4 steals & 2 blocks (23 points). Buddy Hield splashed in 21 points, hitting 7 daggers from deep range. Andre Drummond had 15 boards & 10 points.

Golden State shot just 7/30 from long range, trailing by as much as 25 points with 19 turnovers.

Draymond Green misses crucial go-ahead layup as Spurs barely survive Game 2, 126-129 (2-0).

After a slick pass by the returning Dejounte Murray (23 points, 10 assists, 5 steals) to a streaking Brandon Ingram (34 points) for a game-clinching dunk past Draymond Green (13 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals) in transition, Green got a wide open shot at the basket, but the ball slid off the side, wound up in Dejounte's hands, and free throws spoiled an otherwise spectacular game by Steph Curry (37 points, 8 rebounds, 10 assists).

The Warriors could've used some more production from Klay Thompson (12 points) whereas Andrew Wiggins (24 points) helped Golden State secure a controlling lead in the second half, leading by as much as 11. The Spurs would've probably fallen short under pressure, had it not been for Andre Drummond's stellar dominance on the glass (21 rebounds, 17 points, 3 blocks, 2 steals), as they found themselves fatigued and unable to hit their trademark shots from long range. Buddy Hield, Fred VanVleet & Otto Porter shot a combined 11-27 from 3PT distance, totaling 43 points. The Spurs were unable to increase their own 11-PT lead due to the cold shooting night.

Luckily, Murray & Ingram's ferocity toward the rim came through in the clutch. Good thing for it too, since they missed 6 crucial free throws overall with the game teetering late. Foul trouble late for Steph Curry helped Murray continue to be aggressive, forcing Kevon Looney to foul out (9 rebounds).

San Antonio was fortunate tonight, after a game that looked to be heading to a 1-1 split. Now, the champs can recuperate and seek a dominant 3-0 lead in this series, as the setting shifts to San Francisco at the Chase Center. "We definitely needed DJ [Murray] back," VanVleet was quoted after the tough win. "He just gives so much energy on both sides of the floor, it's inspiring to what we're trying to do."

Spurs control Warriors in Game 1, win: 113-134 (1-0).

With Dejounte Murray still on the bench due to injury, Fred VanVleet took up the mantle and unleashed his shooting prowess on Golden State, finishing with 28 points (6-8 3PT, 7 assists). The second quarter is when the Spurs pulled away, 39-26, after a taut first period. 

Brandon Ingram had 28 points, 5 rebounds & 6 assists, 1 steal & 1 block, hitting 3-5 from long range. Buddy Hield hit six threes as well, scoring 22 points with 6 assists & 4 steals. Down low, Andre Drummond had 15 rebounds with 21 points, 3 steals & 3 blocks.

In the one sided defeat, despite a couple of runs that cut the lead down, Steph Curry chucked his way to 27 points (11-19 FG, 8 turnovers). Klay Thompson had 20 points, with 19 coming from Jordan Poole. James Wiseman had a double-double of 12 points, 11 rebounds. Andrew Wiggins scored 14, with Draymond Green pulling in 9 rebounds.

Golden State went just 9-25 from 3PT territory, whereas the Spurs hit 22/43, with the Warriors having 18 turnovers.