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.

Spurs cruise past Rockets, 150-132, to set league best W/L record of 79-3; Dejounte Murray wins M-V-P & Coach Popovich wins COTY.

The Spurs came out firing as per usual, scoring 38-25 in the 1st Quarter, then 46-34 in the 3rd. Otto Porter got hot late, finishing with 25 points on 5-9 3PT. 

Brandon Ingram scored a fiery 35 points, going 15-20. Buddy Hield hit six threes for 26 points & 6 assists. Fred VanVleet had 16 points, hitting 4-5 3PTers, with Charles Bassey's 10 points off the bench. 

Andre Drummond devoured the glass with 17 rebounds. The Spurs shot 17-30 from 3PT range in the finale game of the season, and a stellar 61% overall from the field, leading by as much as 27 points.

With the Playoffs on the horizon, the Spurs look forward to having their superstar Point Guard back in the fold, as they also look forward to their longtime rival, Golden State Warriors, to bring one hell of a familiar fight in the first round.

The cherry on top to this historical season is Dejounte Murray winning MVP honors, with a stat line of 19.2ppg/4.6rpg/7.2apg/3.3spg. Fittingly, Coach Pop wins Coach of the Year once again. For Murray, he joins Andre Drummond (2x MVP). Only Brandon Ingram is left to hoist that individual accolade, and only time will tell next season. But first, San Antone has a title to defend, yet again. 

Spurs withstand early rush by Magic to stay undefeated at home, 87-100.

Throughout the entirety of the championship-caliber, title-delivering dynasty, the San Antonio Spurs have had some lengthy win streaks and impressive runs on their home court at AT&T Center.

But until this season, the champs have never pulled it off. San Antonio went a total of 41-0 at home this season, withstanding their fiercest rivals and overcoming double-digit deficits. This adds yet another notch to the championship belt that has run through the Spurs franchise over the last fifteen seasons.

The key to finally achieving this tremendous feat of basketball prestige, also an NBA record,  was the addition of even more perimeter shooting. The trio of Buddy Hield, Otto Porter & Fred VanVleet has been deadly, boosting the Spurs into the #1 spot in 3PT percentage of 30 teams.

Defenses have to guard all three scoring threats, since the trio has been in San Antonio's starting lineup for most of the season, barring injury or roster experimentation. As soon as an opening reveals itself, the Spurs capitalize and execute, as only the Spurs offensive scheme can, and does, and moreover has done: Spur-Fection throughout this dynastic reign.

A career high night by Buddy Hield, a 38-PT performance by Fred VanVleet and Otto Porter in the running for #6th man of the year all point to the passion and success of the San Antonio Spurs.

The Rest: 

San Antonio trailed 28-22 after the 1st Quarter, but Buddy Hield finished with 30 points, splashing in eight daggers from long range territory. Brandon Ingram had 17 behind him. Kris Dunn dished 10 assists, as the Magic went way cold hitting just 5-31 from 3PT. Both teams had a rough night shooting the ball, each at 39% FG overall. Orlando had 21 turnovers, though, losing the 3rd Quarter by a 30-12 margin. Brandon Clarke had 11 rebounds for the Spurs.