2015 NBA playoff scores: Playoff basketball reigns supreme as Spurs and Clippers thrill in overtime

The two teams provided an unforgettable playoff experience in what is shaping up to be a remarkable series.

Apr 23, 2015, 12:00 PM UTC

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

All playoff basketball is good. This is a universally accepted truth, a proverb to live by, an adage passed on each and every year. Most of the world already has an established manner of keeping time, such as the Gregorian calendar, but Playoff Basketball On Your Television and No Playoff Basketball On Your Television is an acceptable alternative. You can probably guess which one is the cold, dark winter with no life and despair all around.

Sometimes, though, a game will rise above the already high standard of the playoffs. On Wednesday, that was the Spurs' Game 2 win, 111-107, against the Clippers. Of course it was San Antonio, because who else would it be but the team that has been to the playoffs every year since 1999 and won five titles and counting?

This game had a bit of everything that makes basketball great. Blake Griffin dunked all over everyone. Tim Duncan played like he was 29, even though he turns 39 this week. The lead switched hands seamlessly -- the Spurs whipping the ball around to nail an open three-pointer to go up, followed by the Clippers finding a seam down low for one of their big men. Two great coaches. Back and forth it went.

Even when the Spurs had seemingly won, going up six with about minute left in the overtime period, J.J. Redick nailed a three-pointer. He followed it up with a transition look that rolled out in an almost astonishing manner. Considering the way the game had gone to that point, everyone watching must have expected a tie game and who knows how many more overtimes.

The best thing about the game is that the entire series might play out like this. All playoff basketball is good and games will sometimes rise above that, but even more occasionally, an entire series will. The Mavericks vs. Spurs in last year's seven-game classic. An overtime frenzy a few years back when the Celtics faced a young Derrick Rose-led Bulls team. The 2012 title-winning Heat over San Antonio in the Finals themselves, of course.

It’s probably too early to predict those sort of things, but this Spurs vs. Clippers series has serious promise to be something special and classic. Even if it’s not, we know we’ll have this game to appreciate.

3 other things we learned

Damian Lillard can't figure out the Grizzlies' crushing defense. He has only scored 32 points on 10-of-37 shooting in this series, plus four assists. Lillard's dirty secret is that he's not an extremely efficient scorer, shooting 43 percent for this season and his career. But his 24 percent in this series is horrendous and simply isn't enough for Portland to give Memphis a serious run when the series goes to Portland on Saturday.

There’s no way Tim Duncan turns 39 this week. People always call Duncan a robot, but even a robot would require a tune up or have a part breakdown in 18 NBA seasons of wind and grind. Not Timmy. Never Timmy. On Wednesday, Duncan put up 28 points, 11 rebounds and four assists on 14-of-23 shooting. He only attempted one free throw, missing it, but still absolutely dominated a playoff game. Will this guy ever quit? Maybe it’s selfish but we hope he doesn’t.

How much should we be worrying about the Hawks? Once again, they struggled quite a bit against a "lowly" Nets team. Brooklyn has played them well, but this series is still a No. 1 vs. a No. 8. With a 2-0 lead and home court advantage, there's next to no chance of some huge playoff upset, but Atlanta is a team looking for much more than just the second round. That's what 23 wins in 25 games does to a team, even if they have gone through injury problems since then. With two games left, the Hawks have a little time to finish tuning up their play. But it has to happen soon because time is running out.