Manu Ginobili and Danny Green may have stolen the show in the San Antonio Spurs' 114-104 Game 5 victory over the Miami Heat, but the contributions from Tony Parker and Tim Duncan were equally as important.
Heat vs. Spurs, Game 5: Tony Parker, Tim Duncan stand tall against Miami
The big stories of Game 5 were Manu Ginobili and Danny Green, but Tony Parker and Tim Duncan also delivered in San Antonio’s crucial victory.
Kevin C. Cox
Parker led the Spurs with 26 points and five assists on 10-of-14 shooting, showing no ill effects from a hamstring injury suffered in Game 3, although he did walk with a bit of a limp after the game. Parker explained at his presser that he tried to conserve energy throughout the game so he would have his legs down the stretch, something he didn’t have in Game 4.
“I was just trying to pace myself better during the game and not be out of gas like at the end of Game 4,” Parker said. “In the second half (of Game 4), I didn’t have enough juice and my hamstring was kind of fatigued. This game I was just trying to take my time. It helped because Manu was great and he had a good start, so I didn’t have to be super aggressive in the first half.”
Parker certainly seemed to be full of energy in the fourth quarter of Game 5, scoring nine points on 3-of-4 shooting. Parker had two fourth-quarter assists to go with those nine points, and it was his driving layup with 1:23 to go that helped seal the deal for San Antonio when it looked like Miami may make things really interesting.
As for Duncan, he got things going early, scoring seven points and grabbing five rebounds in the first quarter as the Spurs jumped out to a 13-point lead after one. The big man finished the first half with 13 points and six rebounds, and although he was quiet in the second half, he still finished with a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds.
When the Spurs have their Big Three rolling, they're very difficult to defend. Toss in Green's hot shooting and a strong game from Kawhi Leonard (16 points on 6-of-8 shooting), and it's darn near impossible to stop them. Parker talked about how all the attention focused on him and Duncan have helped Green get so many open looks.
“You can’t stop everything,” Parker said. “If they’re going to trap me and make sure I don’t get off, or Timmy, I’m going to say ‘Keep shooting, Danny.’ He’s (Green) doing great so far.”
Parker, Duncan and the Spurs will look to close the Heat out in Miami on Tuesday.
Quotes via NBA.com’s live stream
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