San Antonio Spurs vs Memphis Grizzlies Match Player Stats On Apr 27, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Apr 28, 2017

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The San Antonio Spurs advanced to the second round of the Western Conference playoffs by defeating the Memphis Grizzlies 103-96 on Thursday night at FedExForum.

The Spurs, who won for the first time in Memphis this season, captured the series 4-2 and will play the Houston Rockets in the second round beginning Monday.

Kawhi Leonard led the Spurs with 29 points, and Tony Parker added 27. LaMarcus Aldridge had 17 points and 12 rebounds.

The Grizzlies got 26 points from Mike Conley -- his fifth consecutive game with 20 or more -- and 18 from Marc Gasol. Zach Randolph finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

The Spurs survived a strong challenge from the Grizzlies by dominating on the boards 46-28.

Memphis led 88-81 with 6:29 to go following three free throws by Conley. But the Spurs answered quickly behind Leonard, who followed a three-point play with a 3-pointer. San Antonio reclaimed the lead 92-90 with 3:13 left and never trailed again.

Ahead by five at the half, the Grizzlies extended their lead to 57-47 early in the third quarter. A 7-2 Memphis run was capped by a corner 3-pointer by James Ennis.

But the Spurs surged ahead and led 75-74 entering the fourth. Manu Ginobili had a four-point play during the run to give San Antonio a 73-69 lead, dropping in a free throw after being fouled on his 3-pointer.

After a sluggish first quarter in which the Grizzlies shot 39.1 percent, they rebounded in the second. Memphis made 11 of its 16 shots during the period.

Conley, who dropped in a 3-pointer at the first-quarter buzzer, added another buzzer beater from beyond the arc as the first half ended.

The Spurs led by seven midway through the opening quarter after a driving layup by Parker. San Antonio took advantage of the Grizzlies' poor shooting, including Gasol and Conley going a combined 1-for-10 in the first quarter.

Parker and Leonard each had 15 points in the first half to lead the Spurs. Marc Gasol's 11 points led the Grizzlies, who shot 51.3 percent and had 22 points in the paint.

NOTES: Spurs F Kawhi Leonard finished 59 of 61 on free throws in the series after going 12 of 13 in Game 6. ... Before the Spurs' win Thursday, the home team was undefeated in nine games played between the teams this season, including the previous five playoff games. ... The Grizzlies made eight 3-pointers in the first half to set a postseason franchise record for a half. The previous mark was seven in the second half against Phoenix in 2005. Memphis finished 12 of 27 from long range Thursday.