Associated Press
The NBA playoff roundup…
OKLAHOMA CITY ó The Oklahoma City Thunder are more than just Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
Way more.
A game after scoring a combined 72 points, Oklahoma City’s All-Star duo got plenty of help from the rest of the Thunder to build a commanding first-half lead and beat the Denver Nuggets 106-89 in Game 2 on Wednesday night.
The first-round playoff series shifts to Denver on Saturday night with Oklahoma City leading 2-0.
“Everybody chipped in tonight,” said Durant, the NBA’s scoring champion the past two seasons. “That’s what we’re going to need.”
Durant scored 23 points and Westbrook added 21, but everyone else contributed to a dominant early stretch that propelled Oklahoma City to a 26-point lead early in the second quarter.
Ty Lawson scored 20 points to lead Denver, which could only get as close as 10 in the fourth quarter before Oklahoma City put the game away.
“We gave them too many minutes, too many possessions of they were totally in control,” Denver coach George Karl said. “They were energized, they were more physical, they were quicker, probably smarter. … The hole was just too big. When it looked like we could get it under 10, a 3-ball would go in or an offensive rebound would break our heart.”
The rematch of a series opener that went right down to the wire and featured a controversial non-call on a goaltending on the Thunder’s go-ahead basket with 65 seconds left couldn’t have been much different than Game 1.
Oklahoma City got a balanced performance, with James Harden providing 18 points and Serge Ibaka adding 12 points and 12 rebounds. Kendrick Perkins had 11 rebounds as the Thunder piled up a 41-19 edge on the boards by late in the third quarter.
Spurs 93, Grizzlies 87
SAN ANTONIO ó Manu Ginobili scored 17 points in the All-Star’s return after missing Game 1 with an elbow sprain, and San Antonio beat Memphis to even the first-round series.
Ginobili wore a thick sleeve to protect his right elbow but played as physically reckless as usual.
Sam Young had 17 points for the Grizzlies, who opened the series with their first franchise playoff win.
Young’s 3-pointer with 14.9 seconds left made it 89-87 before George Hill sealed the win at the free throw line.
Game 3 is Saturday in Memphis.
Tim Duncan had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Spurs, and Hill and Richard Jefferson added 16 apiece.
Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol, who combined for 49 points in the opener, were far less dominant in Game 2. Randolph scored 11 points on 5-of-14 shooting and Gasol had 12 points, making just 2 of 9. Gasol had 17 rebounds.