Spurs blow late lead, beat Grizzlies 93-89 in OT
SAN ANTONIO: San Antonio bounced back after squandering a 13-point lead in the fourth quarter and beat the Memphis Grizzlies 93-89 in overtime on Tuesday, taking a 2-0 lead in the NBA Western Conference finals.
Tony Parker had 15 points and a career playoff-high 18 assists while Tim Duncan scored San Antonio’s first six points of overtime.
“I hate that we gave up that big of a lead in that situation,” Duncan said. “But we were resilient enough to go to overtime and not let it affect us.”
Duncan opened the extra period with a layup, then made a tiebreaking putback on Parker’s missed jumper before making a runner that bounced high of the back iron and rattled in for a 91-87 lead with 1:08 to play.
The Grizzlies had a chance to tie after Jerryd Bayless hit a jumper and Parker missed one of two free throws with 14.6 seconds left, but Bayless’ 3-pointer from the left wing was off-target.
Bayless and Mike Conley each had 18 points to lead Memphis, which has fallen behind in all three series of this postseason, including rallying from an 0-2 deficit to beat the Los Angeles Clippers. Game 3 is Saturday in Memphis.
“We’re in the same boat we were when we left L.A. We’re down 0-2. We’ve got to go home and take care of business at home,” coach Lionel Hollins said. “It’s not going to be easy, but that’s where we are.” Duncan had 17 points and nine rebounds, missing most of the second half with foul trouble before coming up with the key baskets in overtime.
Memphis stormed back from a 13-point deficit with a 15-2 run over the final 8 minutes of regulation to tie it 8585 on Conley’s runner in the lane with 18.2 seconds to play. The Grizzlies got the chance to pull even after Manu Ginobili was called for a flagrant foul for pulling down Tony Allen on a fast-break layup try.
Allen hit both free throws and Memphis got possession, setting up Conley’s tying basket at the end of a string of seven straight Grizzlies points. But Memphis, which trailed by as much as 18 in the second half, could never pull ahead.
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA Draft Lottery and the top overall pick for the second time in three years on Tuesday.
The Cavaliers were able to edge out the Orlando Magic, who had the highest probability of winning the top selec- tion, as they continue to rebuild a franchise reeling from the loss of LeBron James following the 2009-10 campaign.
“It’s huge for us,” Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert told reporters. “This is our third year in a row in the lottery. Hopefully it’s our last for a long, long time.”
Cleveland selected Kyrie Irving with the number one selection in 2011 and the guard has blossomed from a Rookie of the Year into an All Star.
The Cavaliers were still unable to avoid finishing near the bottom of the Eastern Conference this past season, however, though they are on the verge of receiving major help. Following the Cavaliers and Magic, the Washington Wizards will pick third. Charlotte, Phoenix, New Orleans and Sacramento will get picks 4-7. The 2013 Draft is set for June 27 in New York. — Agencies