The San Antonio Spurs had hoped to steal a game from the Oklahoma City Thunder but, Serge Ibaka aside, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook had other ideas for the night. The duo combined for 71 points and Westbrook set a career playoff five steals.
“I don’t know if it’s the best game we’ve ever played together, we ‘ve played so many games now but I think we have another level we can get to.”
Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich pulled the plug on his starters early on in the rout but the bench pulled within 12 points in the fourth quarter but Pop refused to put the starters back in, in an effort to preserve his aging trio of Duncan, Ginobili and Parker.
“Pop did a great job all season keeping us fresh,” Parker said. “I understand his decision (to keep the starters on the bench), I trust his judgment and now I just have to be ready for Game 5.”