It's business as usual for the San Antonio Spurs in the 2016 postseason. The Spurs easily handled the Memphis Grizzlies to win Game 2 of their first round playoff series 94-68 to take a 2-0 series lead on Tuesday.
Grizzlies vs. Spurs 2016 results: San Antonio overpowers Memphis to take 2-0 series lead
The Spurs dominated from the opening tip in a 94-68 win.
Kawhi Leonard had 13 points to lead the Spurs and LaMarcus Aldridge added 10 as Spurs dominated on both ends of the court.
The game was never in question. The Spurs closed out the first quarter on a 9-0 run to take a 22-11 lead, and even though the Grizzlies threatened to stay close, the Spurs’ superiority was always on display. The lead grew to 18 at one point in the second quarter and the Spurs led 49-35 at the half. The second half was an ugly one for the Grizzlies — the Spurs coasted to an easy 26-point win.
The Grizzlies will have a chance to make the series competitive in Memphis for Game 3 on Friday, but they’re currently hanging on by a thread.
Here’s three things we learned:
The Spurs will beat you in spurts
They might not be the Golden State Warriors, but the Spurs will put you away in an instant. They ended the first quarter on a 9-0 run. Then, after the Grizzlies pulled to within six in the second quarter, the Spurs went on a 17-5 run. It may not be as electric as when the warriors pour on 10 points in a minute, but a Spurs run is methodical. They never let up. And eventually, it leads to a run. With bench players like Boris Diaw, Patty Mills — who led the Spurs with 16 points on Tuesday — and a resurgent Kevin Martin, the Spurs are capable of a run at any moment.
Tim Duncan will never, ever age
Tim Duncan didn’t even take a shot in the first half. He was still a driving force for the Spurs, though. While Leonard and Aldridge did what they usually do to lead the Spurs, Duncan added value, too. He was everywhere defensively as he always is, but he also consistently made plays that led to a bucket.
That ball movement tho... pic.twitter.com/MV3iLY8wNC
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) April 20, 2016
This is classic Spurs, and it all starts with Duncan firing an outlet to get the play going. Duncan ended the night with three points, nine rebounds and four assists — and you could add a hockey assist or two, as well. He might not be the Spurs best option when they’re playing the Golden State Warriors, but Duncan is still a force at the age of 39.
Zach Randolph never stood a chance
Randolph scored more than a third of his team’s points in the first quarter, but his team only scored 11 points. He ended the night with 11 points and 12 rebounds, and he worked extra hard for it. Every time he touched the ball in the Grizzlies half-court offense, the Spurs sent a double team at him. Tim Duncan and LaMarcus Aldridge hawked Randolph, and there wasn’t a counter — the Grizzlies had no shooters to exploit the double team.
The Grizzlies were decimated by injuries this season and are likely to make some serious changes in the offseason. It’s sad to see the end of the grit and grind Grizzlies.
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