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Recap: Thunder at Spurs

The Oklahoman's Darnell Mayberry and John Rohde, along with the San Antonio Express Star's Jeff McDonald, provided live coverage of the Spurs' 105-93 victory over the Thunder in San Antonio.

Published: March 11, 2013 Comment on this article

@JMcDonald_SAEN 7:11 p.m. I think they'd like to win. RT @tanialuvsutoo will spurs use this game to make a statement? Or will they let okc win to avoid the lakers?

@okcthunder 7:12 p.m. #Thunder Live is on the air! #FoxSportsOKlahoma #ThundervsSpurs #WeAreThunder

@RohdeOK 7:14 p.m. Yes @mzzp0kc, the #Thunder will wear all-blue alternates tonight against #Spurs, and also at Indiana (4/5) and Golden State (4/11).

@JMcDonald_SAEN 7:21 p.m. Scott Brooks, asked if he was surprised at Spurs' 30-point loss vs PDX: "You're always shocked any time the Spurs lose."

@JMcDonald_SAEN 7:23 p.m. Brooks said he barely bothered watching tape of Spurs' L to Portland, treating it as anomaly: "You can probably just throw that one out."

@RohdeOK 7:29 p.m. I should say #Thunder is scheduled to be in all-blue alternates tonight. Perhaps 4-5 record made them change plans.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 7:32 p.m. Spurs starters: Jospeh, Green, Leonard, Duncan, Splitter. OKC: Westbrook, Sefolosha, Durant, Ibaka, Perkins.

@RohdeOK 7:32 p.m. Correct: 2-0 at home; 2-5 on road. RT @qrex Or that 2-5 road record in them?

@JMcDonald_SAEN 7:37 p.m. Pop calls Kawhi Leonard his "stopper in training." Biggest test imaginable tonight in Kevin Durant.

@DarnellMayberry 7:40 p.m. Thunder players look ultra relaxed as they take the court.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 7:42 p.m. Biggest start for Cory Joseph since ????

@DarnellMayberry 7:48 p.m. Westbrook says he was shooting.

@DarnellMayberry 7:49 p.m. Nice hard drive by Sefolosha, using Danny Green's aggressiveness against him. Earns a trip to the foul line.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 7:49 p.m. Yet it's the loudest I've heard to start a game in a while. RT @JasonMinnix At the AT&T Center...thought it would have playoff atmoshere.

@okcthunder 7:52 p.m. Hey @LoreleiDecker, fantastic job on the @Chesapeake #CheeringForChampions spot, just shown on @FSOklahoma ! @makeawishok

@JMcDonald_SAEN 7:54 p.m. And one of the best free throw shooting teams in NBA history will be in the bonus for the next 4:28.

@DarnellMayberry 7:56 p.m. Serge Ibaka doing a little of everything right now. But his rebounding is driving Spurs fans crazy. He's got eight points & seven boards.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 7:56 p.m. A 13-2 run for Thunder has them up 10 early.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 7:56 p.m. A 16-2 run for Thunder has them up 13 early.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 7:57 p.m. Ibaka's taking it to Spurs again tonight. Has eight and eight in first 10 minutes.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 8:03 p.m. Felt like Spurs showed a pulse with that second unit ... and still trail 32-22 after 1Q.

@DarnellMayberry 8:03 p.m. Russell Westbrook can't get a call. But his scoring and playmaking has helped the Thunder build a 32-22 lead after one quarter.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 8:05 p.m. OKC in 1Q: 4 of 5 from 3. Spurs: 0-2. Also OKC outrebounding Spurs 15-4.

@DarnellMayberry 8:05 p.m. I understand this would be much more impressive if the Spurs weren't trailing by 10 points. Still. Nine Spurs players scored in the first!

@Monroe_SA 8:06 p.m. I've covered teams that give up 111 pts. in 3 quarters, but they were coached by Paul Westhead, not Gregg Popovich

@okcthunder 8:06 p.m. Balanced scoring and strong rebounding propel #Thunder to 32-22 lead over #Spurs after Q1. Serge has 8p/8r. OKC out-rebounding SA 15-4

@DarnellMayberry 8:06 p.m. Perk to his pal Stephen Jackson as he walked past the Thunder bench: "Stop flopping!"

@JMcDonald_SAEN 8:07 p.m. Fan behind me begs Durant to "have some mercy." That didn't take long.

@DarnellMayberry 8:08 p.m. Ginobili just hit Reggie Jackson with that old man game. Created separating without even dribbling.

@DarnellMayberry 8:09 p.m. Jumbotron here in San Antonio just showed that Stephen Jackson is averaging 17, 4 and 3 for his career against the Thunder. Who knew?

@DarnellMayberry 8:12 p.m. Nick Collison knows how to make up for it.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 8:17 p.m. Swear to goodness, was just about to compliment OKC on defensive discipline guarding the 3-point line. Then Spurs make three straight.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 8:18 p.m. That 9-0 run -- two Green 3s, and one by Leonard -- draws Spurs withing 42-40 with 6:44 left in the first half.

@DarnellMayberry 8:18 p.m. Spurs can get back into a game against OKC quicker than any other team in the league. San Antonio on a 9-0 run. Thunder 42, Spurs 40.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 8:19 p.m. But seriously, up until the past 59 seconds, the Thunder had done a spectacular job of denying Spurs clean looks from 3.

@Chesapeake 8:19 p.m. By now you've seen our Make-A-Wish @makeawishok ad running during @okcthunder games. Here's a look behind the scenes. youtube.com/watch?v=2xfxi7…

@DarnellMayberry 8:20 p.m. I think Tiago Splitter is covering Derek Fisher.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 8:21 p.m. Tie game already. 42-42 on Leonard's elbow jumper.

@DarnellMayberry 8:21 p.m. And Fisher covering Splitter

@JMcDonald_SAEN 8:22 p.m. I don't know how, but Tiago Splitter keeps ending up on Derek Fisher. And Fisher still can't score out of it.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 8:22 p.m. I guess it's by design?

@DarnellMayberry 8:23 p.m. Kevin Durant just took a charge on Tiago Splitter!! And nobody on the Thunder benched budged???

@DarnellMayberry 8:24 p.m. Dogfight!!

@JMcDonald_SAEN 8:24 p.m. An 18-2 run for Spurs to get off the deck and take 49-44 lead.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 8:24 p.m. Kawhi Leonard basically going nuts right now.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 8:26 p.m. That's a 24-4 run, capped by Leonard's steal and lefty dunk, as Spurs take a 53-46 lead late 2Q.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 8:26 p.m. Well, let's not get carried away. RT @arisports I think I even saw a smirk.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 8:27 p.m. Meanwhile, if I'm OKC, I notice the greatest scorer on the planet is 4 for 4 and maybe try to get him a couple looks to settle things down.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 8:29 p.m. Won't show up in the box, but Kawhi Leonard caused that OKC shot-clock violation, too.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 8:30 p.m. Kendrick Perkins pulls bloody knife out of Duncan's back just long enough to ask "What foul?"

@JMcDonald_SAEN 8:30 p.m. Spurs have gone from 13 down to 10 up in same half. Thanks to a now 25-4 run.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 8:32 p.m. Despite the comeback, and the lead,... still feels like Spurs needed to close out this quarter better.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 8:33 p.m. Spurs lead 57-50 at the break, after trailing by as many as 13 in the second quarter.

@DarnellMayberry 8:33 p.m. At halftime, the Spurs lead the Thunder 57-50. San Antonio closed the first half on a 26-8 run.

@DarnellMayberry 8:36 p.m. And y'all thought we held OKC to high standards! MT @JMcDonald_SAEN ...still feels like Spurs needed to close out this quarter better.

@okcthunder 8:38 p.m. #Spurs rally in Q2 to take 57-50 lead at halftime. Kevin Durant leads #Thunder with 11 points. KMart 9. Thunder.nba.com

@JMcDonald_SAEN 8:50 p.m. The man knows his constituency. RT @JulianCastro Spurs looking strong against the Thunder.

@DarnellMayberry 8:51 p.m. Kendrick Perkins gets elbowed in the chin by Duncan and it's a foul on Perk. You'd have to see it to believe it.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 8:52 p.m. It's not quite "I want some nasty" but Pop barking at Splitter to "compete."

@JMcDonald_SAEN 8:52 p.m. If Pop could have gone on the floor during live action, he would have slapped Green on the butt there. Really happy with loose-ball effort.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 8:55 p.m. As well as Spurs have been playing for past 11 minutes or so: Spurs 65, OKC 61. Thunder keeping pressure on.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 8:57 p.m. Hence Pop getting on Splitter. RT @Matthew_Tynan 10 offensive boards keeping Thunder in this game.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 8:58 p.m. Pretty sure that Splitter 14 footer was the first basket he's scored outside the paint in his Spurs career.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 8:59 p.m. Nice pass Danny?

@DarnellMayberry 9:00 p.m. Remember that putback attempt Russ didn't get the shooting foul call on? That's why Thunder players are ticked. Refs give it to Splitter

@DarnellMayberry 9:01 p.m. One person called me a hater earlier today. Another just said I'm biased. #goodjournalism

@JMcDonald_SAEN 9:01 p.m. Spurs are 8 for 10 from the foul line, which will bring up season avg. OKC is 8 for 10 from the foul line, which will bring down season avg.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 9:03 p.m. Spurs in bonus for final 4:09 of 3Q. See if they can take advantage.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 9:06 p.m. My view was blocked. How come Westbrook just took a 31-footer with like 18 seconds on the shot clock?

@JMcDonald_SAEN 9:10 p.m. Methinks this is going to be a wild fourth quarter. Calling it ahead of time.

@DarnellMayberry 9:12 p.m. How can the Thunder get a Manu Ginobili type? Oh wait...

@JMcDonald_SAEN 9:13 p.m. Spurs lead 83-74 after 3Q. Because Durant's steal/coast-to-coast 3-pointer came a tick after the horn.

@DarnellMayberry 9:13 p.m. Kevin Durant definitely is not interesting in ruining his shooting percentages on a last-second heave. #FiftyFortyNinety

@JMcDonald_SAEN 9:14 p.m. This is high-quality trolling right here. RT @DarnellMayberry How can the Thunder get a Manu Ginobili type? Oh wait...

@JMcDonald_SAEN 9:15 p.m. Splitter leads Spurs with 17 points on nine shots. Westbrook leads all scorers with 21 points on 19. KD is 6-10, 16 points.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 9:17 p.m. Without question. RT @HarrisNye Could Manu have done what Harden is doing this year given his own team in his prime?

@okcthunder 9:18 p.m. Thunder pulls within one, but ends Q3 down 83-74. RW leads all scorers with 21. pic.twitter.com/U0Z98Yojyd

@JMcDonald_SAEN 9:18 p.m. Three quick fouls for Spurs. Do not want to put OKC in bonus. At all.

@DarnellMayberry 9:18 p.m. Everyone in San Antonio still gasps when Fisher releases a shot.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 9:19 p.m. Without Duncan on the floor, Spurs D'ing up to start 4Q. OKC still scoreless.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 9:20 p.m. Of course, neither Durant or Westbrook is on the floor for OKC. Which sort of makes a difference.

@DarnellMayberry 9:20 p.m. The Thunder has 18 turnovers, which have led to 20 Spurs points. They've come in just about every way imaginable.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 9:21 p.m. OKC has 19 turnovers, good for 25 Spurs points. Kind of offsets Thunder's rebounding edge.

@DarnellMayberry 9:21 p.m. I can't type fast enough to keep up with OKC's turnovers. Another offensive foul. Another Spurs 3. San Antonio 92, Thunder 74 w/ 8:55 left.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 9:22 p.m. He pretty much has complete control over the lineups, Hubie. RT @danmccarneysaen Can't let that happen if you're Brooks.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 9:23 p.m. A 9-0 run after Green's third 3, and Spurs have 92-74 lead with 8:55 to play. Their largest.

@DarnellMayberry 9:23 p.m. I think it's clear that the Spurs bench is quite capable of being the deciding factor in a potential WCF rematch. Wasn't the case last year.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 9:23 p.m. Especially not talk radio types. RT @arisports I'm going to go ahead and assume no one will overreact to this outcome.

@DarnellMayberry 9:24 p.m. Reggie Jackson minus-14. Kevin Martin and Derek Fisher minus-21. Nick Collison minus-24

@JMcDonald_SAEN 9:27 p.m. Ibaka went down holding his head in that scrum. I can attest Stephen Jackson was nowhere near him at the time.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 9:29 p.m. We're nearly 6 minutes into 4Q. Spurs lead 96-79. OKC still w/o FG. As WCF proved, OKC capable of going off at any time.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 9:32 p.m. The best FT-shooting team in NBA history gonna get a lot of foul shots the rest of this quarter.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 9:33 p.m. Oh, OKC does have one fourth quarter field goal. Durant had that one layup.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 9:36 p.m. OKC is 4Q: 1 of 11 from field. 10 of 11 from foul line.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 9:37 p.m. Spurs aren't quite out of the woods. Need baskets.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 9:38 p.m. Pop is not what you want call happy with Manu Ginobili right now.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 9:39 p.m. He said a baaaaaaad word. RT @Matthew_Tynan Pop just ripped into Manu.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 9:40 p.m. Is that good? RT @danmccarneysaen Spurs gave up 46 in their most recent fourth quarter. OKC only has two FGs, 13 points so far in this one.

@danmccarneysaen 9:40 p.m. Now Manu knows what it's like to be a reporter.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 9:43 p.m. Russell Westbrook has attempted 27 shots. Is this normal?

@JMcDonald_SAEN 9:44 p.m. Just a game reset. Spurs lead 102-91 with 56.2 seconds to go and the ball.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 9:45 p.m. Yeah, don't know how the refs missed Westbrook pinning the ball against his calf, taking two steps, and then driving again. But whatever.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 9:46 p.m. Leonard missed corner 3s on successive trips. So Pop calls timeout and puts Danny Green there. Swish.

@JMcDonald_SAEN 9:47 p.m. Spurs will finish off 105-93 victory over OKC, push lead in West back to 2 games. Still one head-to-head meeting left, April 4 in OKC.

@DarnellMayberry 9:48 p.m. Final score: Spurs 105, Thunder 93. Spurs shoot 52.4 percent. Thunder turns it over 19 times and watches its bench get outscored 34-16.

@okcthunder 9:52 p.m. Spurs lead throughout Q4, and Thunder falls 105-93. KD 26 pts, Russell 25 pts., both with 6 assists. pic.twitter.com/N3CdNEkC3V