Manu Ginobili scored 26 points off the bench leading the Spurs to a 101-98 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in game one of the Western Conference Finals.
The Spurs won their 19th game in a row and are now (9-0) in the 2012 postseason.
Only the 2001 Los Angeles Lakers have a longer postseason winning streak (11 games). That 2001 team went on to win the title.
The Thunder controlled the first three quarters and kept the Spurs off balance, but Greg Popovich wouldn’t allow his team to fold.
“The heat of the game, stuff comes up,” Popovich said. “So I talked to them about they’ve got to get a little bit uglier, get a little more nasty, play with more fiber and take it to these guys. Meaning you have to drive it, you have to shoot it.”
The Spurs went on to outscore the Thunder 39-27 in the final period.
Kevin Durant the reigning NBA leading scorer lead the Thunder with 27 points but only had four points in the fourth quarter. Russell Westbrook finished with 17 points on 7 for 21 shooting.
Steven Jackson only scored three points but his job is to shadow Durant, and he will take on that assignment all series.
“I shot good shots, made good passes,” Durant said. “Unfortunately, we lost.”
Harden the Thunder’s go to man off the bench struggled from the field going 7 for 17 and finishing with 19 points.
“I couldn’t make a layup,” Harden said post game. “Watch film and make adjustments, that’s all I can do.”
Game two is Tuesday night in San Antonio. Tip off set for 9pm.
