Leonard, Spurs hold off Thunder for 2-1 lead
San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard. AP
OKLAHOMA CITY — Kawhi Leonard had 31 points and 11 rebounds, and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 100-96 on Friday night to take a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference semifinal series.
LaMarcus Aldridge had 24 points and eight rebounds, and Tony Parker added 19 points and eight rebounds for the Spurs, who regained the home-court advantage they had surrendered with a loss in Game 2.
Russell Westbrook scored 31 points for the Thunder, but he made just 10 of 31 shots. He also had nine rebounds and eight assists. Kevin Durant scored 26 points, Serge Ibaka added 15 and Steven Adams had 11 rebounds for Oklahoma City.
The Thunder shot just 41.5 percent from the field.
Game 4 will be Sunday in Oklahoma City.
The Spurs ran out to a 35-20 lead after a 3-pointer by David West, but the Thunder responded with a 9-2 run to creep back into the game. San Antonio led 47-42 at halftime after making 7 of 11 3-pointers. Westbrook made just 6 of 17 shots before the break.
The Spurs opened the second half on a 7-2 run to force a Thunder timeout, but Oklahoma City, behind 10 points from Durant in the quarter, cut San Antonio’s lead to 72-69 heading into the fourth.
Back-to-back 3s by Ibaka and Westbrook gave the Thunder an 81-77 lead with just over 7 minutes to play. San Antonio regained the lead 91-89, then Westbrook and Durant turned the ball over on back-to-back possessions. West’s bucket in close pushed the Spurs ahead 96-89 with 1:19 to play.
The Thunder trimmed San Antonio’s lead to 98-96 on a floater by Dion Waiters with 4.5 seconds remaining, but Leonard made two free throws with 2.7 seconds left.
TIP-INS
Spurs: West’s 3-pointer was just his fifth in 80 career playoff games. … Committed just one turnover in the first quarter. … Made just 8 of 14 free throws in the first half. … Aldridge made just 8 of 21 shots.
Thunder: Had just seven assists in the first half on 16 baskets. … Outrebounded the Spurs 42-37. … Reserves shot just 7 for 20 from the field.
