Page 20 - ARUBA TODAY

A20 SPORTS
Monday 23 april 2018
Ginobili, Aldridge help Spurs beat Warriors to avoid sweep

By RAUL DOMINGUEZ up the series in Game 5 at double figures for the War-
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Et- home Tuesday. riors.
tore Messina was scream- "You have got to give them Rudy Gay scored 14 points
ing at the Spurs, and Manu a lot of credit," Golden for San Antonio, Dejounte
Ginobili loved it. State forward Draymond Murray had 12 and Kyle An-
Before Gregg Popovich, Green said. "They came derson added 10.
Ginobili played in Italy for out and they probably TIP-INS
Messina, and on Sunday he played with more intensity Warriors: Livingston played
delivered a throwback per- this game than they did the despite spraining his left
formance for his old coach entire series." ankle late in the Warriors'
to save the Spurs' season. LaMarcus Aldridge had 22 Game 3 victory. Livings-
Experiencing a flashback points and 10 rebounds to ton played 21 minutes. ...
to his days playing for Mes- lead the Spurs, but they Golden State PG Stephen
sina in the Euroleague in his were willed to the finish by Curry remained seated be-
early 20s, the 40-year-old Ginobili, who has said he hind the team's bench as
Ginobili scored 10 of his 16 will decide in the offseason he continues to rehabilitate
points in the fourth quarter if he will return for a 17th a sprained left knee. Curry
to help San Antonio beat season. is expected to be avail-
the Golden State Warriors Ginobili was 3 for 4 in the fi- able for the second round.
103-90. The Spurs avoided nal quarter, including mak- ... Andre Iguodala picked
a series sweep as Popovich ing both of his 3-point at- up his fourth foul with 7:56
missed his second straight tempts, and did not have remaining in the third quar-
game following the death a turnover in 6 1/2 minutes. ter, but picked up just one
of his wife, Erin, on Wednes- "I am so happy for him," more foul for the remainder
day. San Antonio Spurs' LaMarcus Aldridge (12) shoots against Gold- Messina said. "I'm so happy. of the game.
en State Warriors' David West (3) and Kevin Durant during the
In his 16th season in the first half of Game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series I think he deserves every- Spurs: Ginobili played in his
NBA and perhaps the final in San Antonio, Sunday, April 22, 2018, in San Antonio. thing that is happening to 217th playoff game, break-
home game of his career, Associated Press him in his life and his ca- ing a tie with Shaquille
Ginobili rebounded from reer." O'Neal for sixth in league
a scoreless effort in Game of flashbacks," Ginobili said, coaching on this stage. Golden State outscored history. Ginobili also passed
3 to help Messina capture chuckling. "He's very strict Good memories." San Antonio 29-21 in the Reggie Miller for third in ca-
his first playoff victory as a and he wants the team to Ginobili played for Messina third quarter and went on a reer 3-pointers in playoff
coach, albeit an unofficial play his way, so whenever while both were with Virtus 13-5 run beginning two min- history. Ray Allen holds the
one. "For moments when we stopped executing the Bologna in 2000-02. utes into the fourth quarter record with 385 3-pointers,
he talks to the rest of the way we should have, the Kevin Durant had 34 points to pull within 88-86 with 6 followed by LeBron James
team, or when he gets up- old himself comes back. and 13 rebounds for the minutes remaining after (337), Ginobili (321) and
set and he yells at us, a lot It was good to see him Warriors, who can wrap trailing by as many as 17. Miller (320). ... Murray was
Aldridge banked in a 3 for 3 on 3-pointers in the
3-pointer with 4:22 remain- first half, the most 3s made
ing to stop the Warriors' run. in the playoffs without a
"It was kind of frustrating," miss by a Spurs player since
Green said. "We played Steve Kerr (2003) and Patty
great defense and he Mills (2014) were 4 for 4 in a
throws something up like half.
that." WE'RE OK
Ginobili then took over with Durant was asked if the
a pair of 3-pointers in the fi- Warriors were downheart-
nal minutes. ed following the loss be-
"I smiled when he made cause their locker room
that corner 3 right in front of was so quiet following their
us at the end of the game," first loss in the series.
Golden State coach Steve "We were good," Durant
Kerr said. "It was just so typi- said. "I guess everybody
cal Manu. Forty years old was just quiet in the locker
and 16 points and hits the room while you were in
clinching 3. He's Manu. there, getting ready, put-
That's what he does." ting on their clothes, get-
The Spurs were 15 for 28 on ting ready to leave. What,
3-pointers on Sunday after you want us to be in there
shooting just 26 percent in throwing champagne
the opening three games. around?"
The Warriors were 7 for 28. OUCH
"It was a do-or-die game, Ginobili took a knee to the
make it happen or go thigh in the fourth quarter,
home, and I think every guy but remained in the game
played with that mentality, after dropping to the court
that focus, and we ended in pain.
up getting it done tonight," "Quad contusion, one of
Aldridge said. hundreds all career long,"
Aside from Durant, only Klay Ginobili said. "It hurts at the
Thompson (12) and Shaun time, maybe tomorrow it's
Livingston (10) scored in going to hurt a little bit. q