Spurs Take Lead Over Mavs
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SAN ANTONIO — Every time the Dallas Mavericks tried to make a push, Tiago Splitter offered resistance.
The San Antonio center produced nine points, six rebounds and four assists in the fourth quarter alone, helping the Spurs defeat the Mavericks 109-103 Wednesday to take a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven Western Conference first-round playoff series.
The Spurs can close out the series Friday in Dallas.
Splitter finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds and five assists.
“A huge lift for us,” forward Tim Duncan said. “He was just great all around.”
A tired point guard Tony Parker led the Spurs with 23 points. Parker said he didn’t sleep Tuesday night after his fiancé, Axelle Francine, delivered a baby, a son named Josh. And Parker played on a sprained left ankle.
“It was crazy,” Parker said. “I didn’t sleep the whole night. I’ve basically been running on adrenaline. But I’m a happy man right now.”
Parker made a 3-point shot with 1:52 left in the game and assisted on a basket by Duncan with 48 seconds remaining that helped San Antonio seal the win.
“(Tuesday) was a pretty special night for him,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “More
important than the game. Doing both, he had a hell of a night. He was magnificent for us.”
Duncan finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Spurs guard Manu Ginobili scored 19, four more than forward Kawhi Leonard.
Reserve guard Vince Carter was spectacular for Dallas, scoring a game-high 28 points and converting seven of nine 3-point attempts.
Offense was not the problem for Dallas.
“Our defense has to be better,” Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. “They’re a tough team. They kind of had it going all night. But it’s the NBA playoffs. It’s supposed to be tough.”
Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki scored 14 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, and he grabbed 15 rebounds in the game. He reached the 20-point mark for the first time in the series.
Dallas guard Monta Ellis scored 21.
The Spurs had a massive 54-28 advantage in points in the paint, which they attributed to a combination of factors.
“We moved the ball better than we have (in the series),” Popovich said. “We looked more like we’ve played offensively most of the year. Tiago’s a big part of that. He reads lanes and understands timing and things pretty well.”
Duncan said the Mavericks are intent on preventing the Spurs from taking open 3-point shots, they still hit 8 of 16 – leaving them room to maneuver in the lane.
“We have a little more ability to get in the lane, especially Tony,” Duncan said. “Once Tony gets in there, he draws a lot of attention. That means Tiago and I have an opportunity to hit the glass and try to finish things up. Manu’s doing the same thing (as Parker), turning the corner and trying to get in the lane.”
San Antonio led 58-49 at halftime after forging ahead by 13 points early in the game, then watching Dallas shoot its way into a tie with 3-pointers.
Parker’s ankle proved to be a non-issue. He scored 10 of San Antonio’s first 21 points, making three baskets on nifty drives to the basket and two on pull-up jump shots.
San Antonio converted 10 of its first 13 shots. Then the Spurs missed six straight, right about the time that Dallas began heating up.
Carter scored 14 in the first half, hitting three of four 3-point shots and making an incredibly athletic fall-away shot from just inside the arc. His 3-pointer tied the game at 42 with 6:39 remaining in the half, but the Spurs created some separation starting with five straight points by Duncan.
The 6-foot-6 Carter kept Dallas in the game during the third quarter as well. He made all three of his shots in the period, including two 3-pointers, for eight points.
His 27-foot 3-pointer with 1:29 remaining left the Mavs trailing by just six, but a layup by Duncan gave San Antonio an eight-point edge going into the fourth quarter.
“Every run we made, they answered back,” Carter said.
Like Carlisle said, the Spurs played too well to be caught from behind.
“Pop was (yelling) at us over and over, just telling us to move the ball,” Duncan said. “It got too stagnant in two or three of the games.
“Tony and I were holding on to the ball and attempting tough shots. We did a much better job tonight moving the ball, moving bodies, setting better screens, getting into the paint and making things happen.”
