San Antonio ‘tidal wave’ swamps Mavs in Game 7

SAN ANTONIO— Faced with the possibility of having a second straight season end with a Game 7 loss, the San Antonio Spurs played with emotion and let Tony Parker have some fun.

Parker scored 32 points and San Antonio led by as many as 31on its way to a119-96 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, closing out a stressful first-round series Sunday in seven games.

The finale featured Tim Duncan diving into Dallas’ bench to save a ball and the Spurs’ reserves continually on their feet to celebrate baskets. But no one had as much fun or hit the floor more than Parker.

The all-star point guard was 11-for-19 from the field and 10-for-13 on free throws as Dallas was unable to keep him from attacking the lane, despite a series of hard fouls.

“I just knew that I had to be aggressive if we wanted to have a chance to win the game because of the strategy that the Mavericks chose,” Parker said. “They just dared me to score.”

Manu Ginobili scored 20 points, Danny Green added16 points and Tim Duncan and Kawhi Leonard had 15 points apiece for San Antonio.

Dirk Nowitzki had 22 points and nine rebounds to lead Dallas.

Last season ended for the Spurs with a Game 7 loss in the NBA finals against the Miami Heat. Facing a much earlier end, San Antonio rode a raucous home crowd and overwhelmed Dallas.

San Antonio advances to face the fifth-seeded Portland Trail Blazers, who upset the Houston Rockets in a six-game series. The series opens Tuesday in San Antonio.

The Spurs got off to a quick start as they had done at home all series, but the Mavs were unable to respond.

“We gave ourselves a chance but we got hit by a tidal wave early,” Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. “They had their best game and we just weren’t able to do quite enough to stay in it early. It’s hard when you get hit with an onslaught early the way the guys did.”