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Spurs aim for 2-0 series lead on Wednesday
By: Freddy Wander - StatFox
Published: 5/20/2014  at  3:13:00 AM
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OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (67-29)

at SAN ANTONIO SPURS (71-24)

NBA Playoffs – Western Conference Finals
Game 2 – San Antonio leads series 1-0
Tip-off: Wednesday, 9:05 p.m. ET
Line: San Antonio -6, Total: 210.5

After a big win by the Spurs in the opener of the Western Conference Finals, the Thunder look to even the series in Wednesday's Game 2.

The absence of injured PF Serge Ibaka (12.2 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2.2 BPG in playoffs) was apparent in Monday's loss by Oklahoma City, as San Antonio rattled off a big 122-105 victory as a six-point home favorite. The Spurs dominated most of the game and held off small runs by the Thunder while shooting an incredible 57.5% from the field and putting up 30+ points in three of the four quarters. San Antonio also made 9-of-17 three-pointers in the contest while forcing 16 turnovers and committing only nine. It was apparent that without an inside scoring presence, the Thunder were taking more jump shots, and were outscored 66-32 in the paint. Tim Duncan was incredible in the game, going for a team-high 27 points plus seven rebounds, while Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook combined for 53 points in the loss, which was more than their other 10 teammates combined. Oklahoma City fell to 29-19 SU (24-23-1 ATS) on the road this season with the loss, while the Spurs pushed their home record to an incredible 39-10 SU on the season, but are only 25-24 ATS. This game was evidence that regular-season numbers do not always matter, since the Thunder defeated San Antonio in each of the four games during the year SU and ATS; outscoring them by an average of 9.3 PPG. Going back three seasons, Oklahoma City is 11-7 SU in this matchup while going 12-5-1 ATS, and it is a resilient 140-90 ATS (61%) after an ATS loss under Scott Brooks. But San Antonio is 38-20 ATS (66%) after scoring 110+ points over the past two seasons and 84-57 ATS (60%) after 2+ straight wins over the past three seasons. The big injury is of course that of PF Serge Ibaka (calf), who will likely be out for the rest of the season for the Thunder. The Spurs come into this contest with a clean bill of health.

Oklahoma City has brought its high-scoring abilities into the playoffs and is averaging 104.5 PPG (45.4% FG) despite playing a defensive-minded Grizzlies team in the first round. But the defense hasn't been great, allowing only 102.6 PPG on 44.3% FG. SF Kevin Durant (31.1 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.4 BPG in playoffs) failed to crack 30 points for just the fifth time in his 14 playoff games this year when he went for 28 points, nine rebounds, five assists and one block in the Game 1 loss. He also posted a dismal minus-17 rating while struggling to keep possession of the ball. Durant committed six turnovers and has now averaged 5.3 turnovers per game in his past four contests. PG Russell Westbrook (26.5 PPG, 8.3 APG, 7.8 RPG, 1.6 SPG in playoffs) had another great all-around game on Monday night, scoring 25 points to go with seven assists and five rebounds. After shooting 58% from the field in the first three games of the second round, Westbrook is making shots at just a 42% FG clip over his past four contests. PG Reggie Jackson (10.9 PPG, 3.9 RPG in playoffs) will need to increase his offensive output with Ibaka out of the picture, and he was solid in Game 1 with 13 points on 6-of-11 shooting. SF Caron Butler (6.6 PPG, 3.3 RPG in playoffs) could also play a major role in this series, but is shooting just 31% from the field over his past five games. Butler had nine points and four rebounds on Monday night. The club's top scoring reserve was veteran PG Derek Fisher (3.9 PPG on 32% FG in playoffs) who dropped 16 points on 4-of-6 threes, but posted a game-worst rating of minus-18.

San Antonio has been the team to beat since its close loss in last year’s NBA Finals, and the club is scoring 106.8 PPG in the playoffs while hitting an incredible 50.0% of their shots. The defense has also played pretty well by holding opponents to 99.2 PPG on 43.9% FG. PF Tim Duncan (16.7 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 1.5 BPG in playoffs) had arguably his best game of this postseason on Monday with 27 points on 11-of-19 shooting to go with seven rebounds and three assists. The performance was encouraging since he averaged only 13.8 PPG (46% FG) in the five games against the Trail Blazers in the second round. PG Tony Parker (16.8 PPG, 5.5 APG in playoffs) had 14 points on Monday night while dishing out 12 assists. It was just the second time in this postseason that Parker had double-digit assists, and he also picked up a steal for the fifth time in his past six games. SF Kawhi Leonard (14.2 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 1.9 SPG in playoffs) played 39 minutes in the series opener and had 16 points, six rebounds, three steals and a block. He has now averaged 19.0 PPG, 6.5 RPG and 4.0 SPG over his past two games. SG Manu Ginobili (14.2 PPG, 4.2 APG, 1.8 SPG in playoffs) shot horribly in the final three games of the Western Conference Semifinals (8.3 PPG on 7-of-25 FG, 28%), but opened this series with 18 points on 7-of-12 FG (3-of-4 threes). C Tiago Splitter (8.8 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 1.0 SPG in playoffs) has cooled off since a big first round, and played just 19 minutes in Game 1, scoring six points while grabbing eight rebounds. SG Danny Green (8.5 PPG, 47% threes in playoffs) had an outstanding performance on Monday with 16 points on 6-of-7 FG (4-for-5 threes) and his +30 rating was by far the best rating of the game, as three players were at +12. Green has now made 8-of-11 threes over his past two games while averaging 19.0 PPG in that time.


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