Grizzlies 104, Spurs 86 (MEM leads series 3-1)
Things are getting interesting in the West, especially in this 1/8 series between San Antonio and Memphis. The Grizzlies are playing very good basketball right now and beat the Spurs with balance (nine players scored 8+ points). The Spurs shot 47% from the field, which would usually be enough to win, but Memphis shot 51% from the field and 42% from 3PT land, while the Spurs turned it over 17 times. The Grizzlies are in control of the series, but don’t count the Spurs out. They have to win three games in a row, but two of those games are at home, so it’s doable. Right now, it just looks like the Grizzlies are the better, deeper team.
Mavericks 93, Blazers 82 (DAL leads 3-2)
Give the Mavs credit. They didn’t fold after blowing a 23-point lead in Game 4. Dirk Nowitzki scored 25 points, but Dallas was balanced in the fourth quarter with six different players scoring in the first seven and a half minutes of the fourth quarter. Tyson Chandler had 14 points and 20 rebounds, while Jason Kidd dished out 14 assists. As an encore to his brilliant play in Game 4, Brandon Roy only managed five points on 2-of-7 shooting.
Nuggets 104, Thunder 101 (OKC leads series 3-1)
Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook both scored 30+ points, but it wasn’t enough as Ty Lawson dropped 27 points and five other Nuggets scored in double-figures to help Denver avoid elimination. Westbrook’s play is a little perplexing. He went 12-of-30 from the field and went 0-for-7 from three-point range, including three misses in the final 30 seconds. Can the Thunder win without traditional point guard play from their All-Star?
