Game 5, Western Conference first round
Best of seven, series tied 2-2
6 p.m. tonight, AT&T Center
Game 1: @Spurs 90, Dallas 85
Game 2: Dallas 113, @Spurs 92
Game 3: @Dallas 109, Spurs 108
Game 4: Spurs 93, @Dallas 89
Game 5: AT&T Center, 6 p.m. tonight
Game 6: at Dallas, TBD Friday
Game 7, if necessary: at AT&T Center, TBD Sunday
Recapping Game 4
If this had been the regular season, the Spurs would probably have been disappointed about blowing a 20-point, third-quarter lead and being forced to fight to the final minute. This is the playoffs, however, and they did what they had to do to avoid falling into a 3-1 hole. The Spurs — with a healthy assist from DeJuan Blair’s momentum-snapping ejection — went ahead for good on Boris Diaw’s 3-pointer with 32 seconds remaining, and Tim Duncan disrupted Monta Ellis just enough on the tying layup attempt to defend the late lead — something they couldn’t do in Game 4.
What went right for the Spurs
It didn’t last, but for roughly two quarters, starting exactly when Manu Ginobili checked in midway through the first until early in the third, the Spurs played one of their best stretches of the entire season, outscoring the Mavericks 56-26 to pull out of an early funk and go up by 20. That helped them bounce back from two uneven defensive performances to limit Dallas to 38.1 percent shooting and a 99.5 offensive rating. The Spurs also, finally, got something out of their bench besides just Ginobili as Boris Diaw scored 17 and Patty Mills added 10.
What didn’t
The Spurs responded in rather emphatic fashion, but falling behind 12-2 to start a critical playoff game never helps. Neither does suddenly misplacing your mojo as the other team storms back from 20 down. Despite playing with renewed energy, the Spurs were powerless to contain Blair as he pushed his team back into contention with one hustle play after another. Perhaps the biggest problem came late in the first half, when Tony Parker suffered a Grade I ankle sprain. He continued to play but is listed as questionable entering tonight’s contest.
Keys to victory
* Parker hasn’t been at his best this series, particularly in the second half. But he’s still chipping in 15.5 points and 4.5 assists, production the Spurs will be hard pressed to replace, with so many players underachieving, should he be forced to sit out. They’ve at least proven they can win without him, going 12-3 this season.
* Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Tuesday he has no plans to significantly boost Ginobili’s minutes in the hopes of keeping him fresh. As such, the Spurs must continue to maximize the impact of their most important player so far, with whom their offense improves by roughly 23 points per 100 possessions when he’s on on the court.
* By bumping and grinding him wherever he goes, the Spurs have defended Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki as well as can be expected. The future Hall of Famer is averaging just 16 points on 38-percent shooting in the series. Boris Diaw has helped in his surprisingly-effective way, but Tiago Splitter has done most of the front-line work.
Line: Spurs by 6 1/2.