SPURS, RAPTORS GET REST FOR NEXT ROUND
MEMPHIS— Gregg Popovich feels like his San Antonio Spurs survived the Memphis Grizzlies and is grateful their first-round series finally is over after six games.
His Spurs desperately need a couple days off before hosting Houston on Monday night in their Western Conference semifinal.
The Spurs finished the game on a 22-8 run Thursday night after trailing by seven in beating Memphis 103-96 to take the series 4-2. Kawhi Leonard scored 29 points, and Tony Parker added 27.
“I’m seriously thrilled that we were able to get through that first round,” Popovich said. “That’s the good news. The bad news is that we now have to go play Houston.”
The Spurs advanced by winning on the road, something neither San Antonio nor Memphis had managed against each other all season long. LaMarcus Aldridge had 17 points and 12 rebounds as San Antonio outrebounded Memphis 46-28. They got 16 of those on the offensive boards, leading to 17 secondchance points.
Parker said the Spurs treated this like a Game 7 to make sure they avoided heading home to play a deciding seventh game that had been scheduled for Saturday. That would’ve meant only one day to rest and prepare for the No. 3-seeded Rockets with this semifinal starting Monday night in San Antonio.
“We wanted those days off before playing Houston because it’s going to be a fast-paced game against them,” Parker said. “They have a great offense, and the key is going to be defense. So we’re going to have to have our legs. I think this win is huge obviously, because we won the series, but even to prepare against Houston.”
In Milwaukee, the Toronto Raptors also earned extra days off and might need those to get better at holding onto big leads after blowing a 25-point advantage against the Milwaukee Bucks before winning 92-89 on Thursday night. Toronto took a physical, tiring first-round series in six games.
“We’re just a team up north. We don’t get a lot of respect and I like that,” coach Dwane Casey said. “As a matter of fact I think we’re better with our backs against the wall.”
The Eastern Conference semifinals start in Cleveland on Monday.
“Ready for the next one. Ready for the next one,” guard DeMar DeRozan said. The Raptors’ leading scorer had 32 points on 12-of-24 shooting, along with five steals.
We’re just a team up north. We don’t get a lot of respect and I like that DWANE CASEY Toronto Raptors coach