Tim Duncan is doing his very best to get the Spurs back to the NBA Finals one more time.
The 37-year-old center took control in overtime for a second straight game, this time scoring the first five points as the Spurs rallied from an 18-point deficit to beat the Grizzlies 104-93 last night in Memphis, Tenn.
That put them a win away from their first finals since 2007.
“He was huge for us the other night in overtime and got it done for us, and he did it again tonight,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of the two-time MVP. “That’s why he is considered as great as he has for the last 17 years. He’s been unbelievable. He feels a responsibility to carry us in those kinds of times, and he did it again tonight.”
Duncan wants to get back to the finals after being on the verge last year. He said he was more aggressive in overtime after being a bit tentative with his shot in regulation.
“I’m not worried about how old I am or whatever, whatever it may be,” Duncan said. “I’m very focused on having another opportunity to make it to a championship and try to win, that’s all.”
The Spurs grabbed a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference finals and now have won five straight this postseason. With the memory of blowing a 2-0 lead a year ago in the West finals to Oklahoma City, when they lost the next four, the Spurs shook off their sloppy play early and pushed the young Grizzlies to the edge of elimination in the first West final played in Memphis.
The Grizzlies knocked off the Clippers after trailing 0-2 and upset the West’s top seed in Oklahoma City in the semifinals. Now their task is even tougher with Game 4 in Memphis on Monday night.
“We’ve been fortunate to get this far, and we’ve got to play better if we want to continue,” Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins said.
Heat-Pacers heating up
NBA vice president Stu Jackson is reviewing whether Dwyane Wade should be issued a retroactive flagrant foul for an elbow he gave Pacers guard Lance Stephenson during Friday’s Game 2, won by Indiana, 97-93, according to ESPN.com.
The play wasn’t called a foul by the officials.
Game 3 of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference final — even at a game apiece — is tonight (8:30, TNT) in Indianapolis.