Leonard leads Spurs to a 32-point rout of Grizzlies in series opener
SAN ANTONIO – Kawhi Leonard had 20 points and the San Antonio Spurs beat Memphis 106-74 on Sunday (Monday Manila time) in Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round series, handing the Grizzlies their worst postseason loss.
LaMarcus Aldridge added 17 points, and Tony Parker had 15 points and six assists for San Antonio. The Spurs sat their starters in the fourth quarter to rest them for Game 2 on Tuesday night in San Antonio.
San Antonio shot 68 percent in the third quarter, outscoring Memphis 33-14 to break open what had been a relatively close game against the short-handed Grizzlies.
Memphis matched a postseason low in the first quarter with 13 points, and only Xavier Munford’s 15-foot jumper with 46.1 seconds remaining kept it from matching the worst output in any quarter.
Vince Carter had 16 points to lead Memphis. Zach Randolph was held to six points on 3-for-13 shooting.
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San Antonio Spurs Kawhi Leonard (2) and Tim Duncan (21) stop Memphis Grizzlies’ Matt Barnes (22) on his drive. AP
Memphis’ largest previous losing margin was 27 points against Oklahoma City on May 11, 2011.
Memphis was able to keep the game close in the first half despite being without starters Marc Gasol and Mike Conley, but San Antonio closed the second quarter on a 9-0 run leading into its dominant third.
