It took the San Antonio Spurs 36 minutes and change to take their first lead of the game, but they now find themselves one game from returning to the NBA Finals. They beat the Memphis Grizzlies 104-93 in overtime to take a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Grizzlies in the Western Conference Finals.
Spurs vs. Grizzlies Game 3, NBA Playoffs 2013: San Antonio storms back for 104-93 overtime win
The San Antonio Spurs are now one game away from their first NBA Finals since 2007 after they roared back from an early 18-point deficit to pick-up the overtime victory.
Tim Duncan scored seven of his 24 points in overtime -- and found Tiago Splitter for a huge basket -- to help guide the Spurs to the victory. The Spurs started the overtime period shooting 5-of-5 to take an eight-point lead. After Mike Conley, Jr. cut the lead to six with just under two minutes to go, Tony Parker came down, drew the foul on Zach Randolph and then made the basket. His free throw put the Spurs up nine and effectively ended the game.
This was the first game the Spurs got big scoring outputs from their Big 3 of Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. The three combined for 69 points, with Parker scoring 26 and Manu Ginobili having his best game of the playoffs with 19 points. That output was especially important because the Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green and Splitter combined for 14 points.
After the Grizzlies looked poised to run away with the game early, the Spurs slowly clawed their way back into the game. The two teams went back and forth in the fourth quarter, with Ginobili and Conley exchanging misses to send the game to overtime.
Conley led the Grizzlies with 20 points, while Marc Gasol added 16 points. The Grizzlies also got good scoring from their wings, as Tayshaun Prince, Allen and Quincy Pondexter each scored in double figures. The loss was Memphis’ first at home this postseason.
Game 4 is scheduled for Monday at 9 p.m. ET and can be seen on ESPN.
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