San Antonio Spurs Beat LA Clippers 102-99 to enter West Finals

Compared to the first three games, this was closed in the final period. San Antonio Spurs Tim Duncan scored 21 points while Tony Parker added 17 and the San Antonio Spurs beat Los Angeles Clippers 102-99 sweeping LA Clippers 4-0. The Spurs now advance to the Western Conference finals, and will wait for the winner between the Oklahoma Thunders and Los Angeles Lakers.

The Spurs now extend their winning streak to 18 games and their playoff record to 8-0, tying the third best postseason streak in franchise history.

The San Antonio Spurs trailed most of the final quarter but was able to tie the score twice in the final 3:32 before the big three of Duncan, Ginobili and Parker took over.

With 10.5 seconds left in the game, the Clippers still have a chance to tie the game in the final quarter and maybe send it to overtime but Los Angeles Clippers star point guard Chris Paul missed a shot, that spelled their doom. 

The Clippers were led by Chris Paul with 23 points, while Blake Griffin added 21 point. 

San Antonio Spurs beat Los Angeles Clippers 96-86 to take 3-0 series lead

Tim Duncan scored 19 points for the San Antonio Spurs, helping to engineer a 24-0 run in the third quarter after the San Antonio Spurs trailed by 24 points, and the Spurs defeated the Clippers 96-86 to take a commanding 3-0 lead in their second round NBA playoff series.

Tony Parker added 23 points, while Spurs rookie Kawhi Leonard had 14 points to help the San Antonio Spurs with their 17th in a row and improve to 7-0 in the playoffs.

The Los Angeles Clippers were led by Blake Griffin with 28 points, while back up guard Mo Williams added 19 points for the Clippers, who face some daunting task as no team in the history of the NBA has ever rallied from a 3-0 deficit to win a series.

The Clippers were on fire on the first quarter which saw them leading 22 points 33-11 on the first quarter, but the Spurs cut that lead by the end of the first half to 10 53-43.

Then came the second half, after a quiet first half Tim Duncan helped the Spurs control the third quarter when they outscored the Clippers 26-8. The Spurs took their first lead during a 23-0 run on a fadeaway jumper by Tim Duncan, who scored nine points in the outburst that put them ahead for good, at the end of the third the Spurs are ahead 69-61. The Clippers never got back then.

Game 4 will still be played in Los Angeles. 

Top 10 Highest Paid Players in the NBA 2009-2010

1. Tracy McGrady
Houston Rockets
$23,239,561

2. Kobe Bryant
LA Lakers
$23,034,375

3. Jermaine O'Neal
Miami Heat
$22,995,000

4. Tim Duncan
San Antonio Spurs
$22,183,218

5. Shaquille O'Neal
Cleveland Cavaliers
$20,000,000

6. Dirk Nowitzki
Dallas Mavericks
$19,795,714

7. Paul Pierce
Boston Celtics
$19,795,712

8. Ray Allen
Boston Celtics
$19,795,712

9. Rashard Lewis
Orlando Magic
$18,876,000

10. Michael Redd
Milwaukee Bucks
$17,040,000

SAN ANTONIO'S BIG 3 WILL BE HEALTHY

Well I hope so, they may not be the flashiest of all players, but they get the job done. The San Antonio big 3 will be healthy this coming NBA season, or so they say.

The Spurs having been eliminated by Dallas, has been very busy as of late especially. The Spurs acquire Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess, and also added veteran big man Theo Ratliff and rookie forward DeJuan Blair to help the aging Spurs win the NBA title. Will this addition be enough? it remains to be seen.

The big 3 on the other hand are taking it easy as of the moment, Duncan who was bothered by knee problems, has pushed back the normal start of his normal preseason regimen by a month. Ginobili on the other hand has limited his summer activity to a treadmill and some walks. "He is healthy," Popovich said. "He'll come back out of shape but healthy." Tony Parker which gave the Spurs management a scare when he hurt his right ankle playing for the French national team, but Popovich said the injury was minor.