Spurs knock Grizzlies out in first round again
Kawhi Leonard scored 29 points, and the San Antonio Spurs advanced to the Western Conference semifinals by beating the Memphis Grizzlies 103-96 Thursday night in Tennessee to take the series in six games.
The Spurs now have beaten Memphis four of the five playoff series between these teams, and this was San Antonio’s second straight win over the Grizzlies in the first round.
Tony Parker added 27 points on 11-for-14 shooting, while LaMarcus Aldridge had 17 points and 12 rebounds. Patty Mills had 10 points off the bench for the Spurs. San Antonio outrebounded Memphis 46-28, with 16 of those offensive boards. That led to 17 second-chance points.
The Spurs’ series with the Houston Rockets will start Monday night in San Antonio.
Mike Conley scored 26 points, leading the five Memphis starters in double digits. Marc Gasol added 18, Zach Randolph 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Vince Carter had 12 points.
The Grizzlies fell to 3-10 in elimination games, losing six straight.
This was a taut game with 16 ties and nine lead changes, especially with four ties in the fourth quarter.
The Spurs took control after the Grizzlies went up 88-81 on three free throws from Conley with 6:29 left. Then Leonard scored eight straight for San Antonio, starting a 22-8 run to finish the game.
“I'm seriously thrilled that we were able to get through that first round,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “That’s the good news. The bad news is that now we have to go play Houston.”
Toronto 92, at Milwaukee 89: DeMar DeRozan scored 32 points and the Raptors squandered a 25point lead late in the third quarter before holding on to take their first-round Eastern Conference series in six games. Cory Joseph had five points in a 9-0 run in the final two minutes, including a three-point basket with 1:27 left to help stave off the pesky Bucks.
Jason Terry’s threepointer with 3:06 left gave Milwaukee an 80-78 lead, completing a comeback from the 25-point deficit with 5:16 left in the third quarter. Toronto looked as if it was on cruise control after DeMarre Carroll’s threepointer gave the Raptors a 71-46 advantage.
Giannis Antetokounmpo spearheaded the secondhalf rally for the Bucks and finished with 34 points.
The Raptors will play the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round.
Rondo unlikely to play in Game 6
If the Chicago Bulls are to extend their postseason, they almost certainly will have to do it without Rajon Rondo.
Rondo has a fractured right thumb, and coach Fred Hoiberg said the backcourt catalyst is a “long shot” to play Game 6 against the Boston Celtics on Friday night. Nor does the coach expect Rondo to be available if a Game 7 is necessary. The veteran guard was scheduled to work out Thursday night.
“Nothing has changed as of now,” Hoiberg said during a conference call Thursday.
Hoiberg said guard Isaiah Canaan would start in Rondo’s place for a second straight game. The Celtics lead the first-round series 3-2.
Since Rondo injured his hand in Game 2, Boston has won three straight. The Bulls averaged 93.0 points in those games compared with 108.5 in the first two.
Etc.
New York Knicks center Joakim Noah had right shoulder surgery Wednesday to repair his rotator cuff, a procedure that could sideline him until training camp. The team didn’t give a timetable for Noah’s recovery . ... The inaugural “NBA Awards” show on June 26 will include several categories voted on exclusively by the fans, including dunk of the year and performance of the year. The NBA and TNT, which will broadcast the show, announced the categories. They also include best style, game-winner of the year, block of the year and assist of the year.