Spurs take Game 1 in best of 7 with Lakers

It wasn’t a shooting exhibition but it was good enough as the San Antonio Spurs ran away with a 91-79 victory at the AT&T Center. The Lakers shot just 41% and 20% from the three point line. The Lake show also gave up 18 turnovers.

“I thought tonight was the best defense we’ve played in three or four weeks,” head coach Gregg Popovich said. “It came at a good time.”

The Spurs didn’t shoot much better.  By the end of the game they were shooting an erratic 37.6% and 31.8% from the three-point line.  They were led by Tim Duncan (17 points, 10 rebounds 3 steals) and Tony Parker (18 points, 8 assists 3 steals) but Parker could do nothing but praise the return of Manu Ginobili.

“He is a huge key with what we do,  He has been here a long time and really knows our system and tonight he made some timely threes and was our energy off the bench…We are going to need that if we want to go far in the playoffs.”

Game 2 will tip off Wednesday at 9:30 PM so be sure to get your tickets!

Spurs face familiar foe in Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs

It was a gritty win for the Los Angeles Lakers as they overcame the Houston Rockets in a 99-95 overtime game at Staples Center.  The win eliminated the Utah Jazz from the playoffs but placed the Lakers squarely in the path of the San Antonio Spurs quest for another NBA Championship.

Be sure to get  your tickets and cheer on your San Antonio Spurs!

Series schedule

Game 1 — Sunday, at San Antonio, 2:30

Game 2 — Wednesday, at San Antonio, 8:30 pm

Game 3 — Friday, April 26, at Los Angeles, 9:30 pm

Game 4 — Sunday, April 28, at Los Angeles, 6:00 pm

Game 5 (if necessary) — Tuesday, April 30, at San Antonio, TBA

Game 6 (if necessary) — Thursday, May 2, at Los Angeles, TBA

Game 7 (if necessary) — Saturday, May 4, at San Antonio, TBA

Spurs hand Lakers 5th loss in a row

Look to disarm 23-10 Grizzlies

The San Antonio Spurs put the Los Angeles Lakers in a place they haven’t been in since April 10, 2011 – the last time they lost five consecutive games. This time though, the righting of the ship is nowhere in sight.

But for the Spurs, their focus is now on the team that is trailing them by only 2.5 games.  The San Antonio Spurs come visiting a Memphis Grizzlies team that is riding a three game winning streak and, even though the Spurs have won the last five games between them, they are not taking them lightly especially after they eliminated the veteran Spurs from the 2010-11 Playoffs.

“You never forget those kinds of series,” Spurs guard Tony Parker said. “Memphis is playing well so it’s going to be a tough game.”

The Grizzlies also come into the game with a league leading 89.1 scoring defense while the Spurs have struggled from the 3-point line over their last two road games shooting 15 of 55 (27.3 percent). In comparison, against the Lakers, they shot 12 of 25 (48.0 percent).

“We’re just going to have to play a little bit better,” Parker said. “That’s the NBA season, you’re going to have ups and downs.”

The game kicks off at 7:30 at the FedEx Forum.