Spurs follow familiar script
MEMPHIS, Tennessee — Kawhi Leonard scored 29 points as the San Antonio Spurs advanced to the Western Conference semifinals by topping the Memphis Grizzlies 103-96 on Thursday night to take the series 4-2.
The Spurs now have beaten Memphis in four of the five playoff series between the teams, and this marked San Antonio’s second straight win over the Grizzlies in the quarterfinals.
Tony Parker added 27 points on 11-of-14 shooting, while LaMarcus Aldridge had 17 points and 12 rebounds.
Patty Mills had 10 points off the bench for the Spurs, who dominated 46-28 on rebounds, with 16 offensive boards. That led to 17 secondchance points.
The all-Texas semifinal between the Spurs and the Houston Rockets opens on 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.
It was a taut game with 16 ties and nine lead changes.
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.
Even with Conley and Gasol a combined 2 of 10 in the first quarter, the Grizzlies trailed only 24-22 after Conley knocked down a 3 at the end of the quarter for his first bucket of the game.
Conley hit another 3 for the final shot in the second quarter, putting Memphis up 50-45.
Parker hit his first six shots before finally missing his seventh with 29 seconds left in the first half.
The Grizzlies took their biggest lead at 57-47 on a 3-pointer by James Ennis III.