San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder (-3.5, 206.5)
THE STORY: Having been unable to slow down the San Antonio Spurs' juggernaut, the Oklahoma City Thunder will hope that returning to their home arena will swing the momentum when they host Game 3 of the Western Conference finals Thursday night. After rallying from a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit in Game 1, San Antonio put on an offensive clinic in dismantling the Thunder in Game 2 to improve to 10-0 in the postseason and stretch its unbeaten streak to a record 20 games.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE SPURS: How efficient has San Antonio’s offense been? Crunch these numbers: After they were limited to 62 points through three quarters of Game 1, the Spurs have shot 58.5 percent since and averaged nearly 32 points in each of the last five quarters. Point guard Tony Parker scored 34 points on 16-of-21 shooting in Game 2 and directed an attack that was unstoppable in stretches. San Antonio hit eight of nine shots in the second quarter to put the Thunder on their heels and blew the game open in the third quarter by burying nine of 11 attempts, including five consecutive 3-pointers. Sixth man Manu Ginobili has back-to-back 20-point games for only the third time this season and rookie Kawhi Leonard posted his first double-double since March 25.
ABOUT THE THUNDER: Oklahoma City received a combined 88 points from its Big 3 of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden, yet still found itself staring at a 22-point deficit midway through the third quarter. The Thunder did get within six points in the fourth quarter, but they cannot match San Antonio basket-for-basket when three members of the staring five combine for 13 points. Three-time scoring champ Durant scored 31 points, but he took only 10 shots after scoring 12 first-quarter points. Conversely, forward Serge Ibaka and backup guard Derek Fisher each heaved up 11 shots. Point guards Westbrook and Harden combined for zero turnovers and Oklahoma City had just 10 total, showing the ease in which the Spurs are manufacturing points out of their set offense.
TRENDS:
- Over is 5-0-1 in the last six meetings in Oklahoma City.
- Spurs are 18-7-3 ATS in their last 28 road games.
- Thunder are 2-5 ATS in their last seven home games.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Only 14 teams in NBA history have come back to win a series after trailing 2-0.
2. San Antonio became the fourth team in league history to win 20 games in a row, and its streak extending from the regular season into the playoffs eclipsed the record of 19 straight wins set by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2001.
3. The Thunder are 5-0 at home in the playoffs, while the Spurs have not lost since April 11 and are 10-1 in the last 11 meetings with Oklahoma City.
THE STORY: Having been unable to slow down the San Antonio Spurs' juggernaut, the Oklahoma City Thunder will hope that returning to their home arena will swing the momentum when they host Game 3 of the Western Conference finals Thursday night. After rallying from a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit in Game 1, San Antonio put on an offensive clinic in dismantling the Thunder in Game 2 to improve to 10-0 in the postseason and stretch its unbeaten streak to a record 20 games.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE SPURS: How efficient has San Antonio’s offense been? Crunch these numbers: After they were limited to 62 points through three quarters of Game 1, the Spurs have shot 58.5 percent since and averaged nearly 32 points in each of the last five quarters. Point guard Tony Parker scored 34 points on 16-of-21 shooting in Game 2 and directed an attack that was unstoppable in stretches. San Antonio hit eight of nine shots in the second quarter to put the Thunder on their heels and blew the game open in the third quarter by burying nine of 11 attempts, including five consecutive 3-pointers. Sixth man Manu Ginobili has back-to-back 20-point games for only the third time this season and rookie Kawhi Leonard posted his first double-double since March 25.
ABOUT THE THUNDER: Oklahoma City received a combined 88 points from its Big 3 of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden, yet still found itself staring at a 22-point deficit midway through the third quarter. The Thunder did get within six points in the fourth quarter, but they cannot match San Antonio basket-for-basket when three members of the staring five combine for 13 points. Three-time scoring champ Durant scored 31 points, but he took only 10 shots after scoring 12 first-quarter points. Conversely, forward Serge Ibaka and backup guard Derek Fisher each heaved up 11 shots. Point guards Westbrook and Harden combined for zero turnovers and Oklahoma City had just 10 total, showing the ease in which the Spurs are manufacturing points out of their set offense.
TRENDS:
- Over is 5-0-1 in the last six meetings in Oklahoma City.
- Spurs are 18-7-3 ATS in their last 28 road games.
- Thunder are 2-5 ATS in their last seven home games.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Only 14 teams in NBA history have come back to win a series after trailing 2-0.
2. San Antonio became the fourth team in league history to win 20 games in a row, and its streak extending from the regular season into the playoffs eclipsed the record of 19 straight wins set by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2001.
3. The Thunder are 5-0 at home in the playoffs, while the Spurs have not lost since April 11 and are 10-1 in the last 11 meetings with Oklahoma City.
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