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SPORTSSaturday 29 April 2017

Spurs get much-needed time off before Houston

TERESA M. WALKER San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots against night in San Antonio. both feet and his left knee
AP Sports Writer Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) during the first half of “We wanted those days after the game but walked
MEMPHIS, Tennessee (AP) Game 6 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, off before playing Houston just fine talking to reporters.
— Gregg Popovich feels April 27, 2017, in Memphis, Tenn. because it’s going to be a He said he talked with
like his San Antonio Spurs fast-paced game against Popovich about how the
survived the Memphis Griz- Associated Press them,” Parker said. “They Grizzlies were going under
zlies and is grateful their have a great offense, and on pick-and-rolls and not
first-round series finally is ed this like a Game 7 to for Saturday. That would’ve the key is going to be de- giving shots for Aldridge.
over after six games. make sure they avoided meant only one day to rest fense. So we’re going to “I had to be aggres-
His Spurs desperately need heading home to play a and prepare for the No. have to have our legs. I sive,” Parker said. “That’s
a couple days off before deciding seventh game 3-seeded Rockets with this think this win is huge obvi- a choice that Memphis
hosting Houston on Mon- that had been scheduled semifinal starting Monday ously, because we won the made. We talked about it
day night in their Western series, but even to prepare last week. They just are go-
Conference semifinal. against Houston.” ing to leave me in the cor-
The Spurs finished the game For much of this series, ner 3s and just go under the
on a 22-8 run Thursday Leonard carried the Spurs pick-and-rolls, so I had to
night after trailing by seven as he matched or topped be aggressive.”
in beating Memphis 103-96 his playoff career high in The Spurs easily swept the
to take the series 4-2. Kawhi scoring in three of the five Grizzlies a year ago when
Leonard scored 29 points, games. He also hit his first 42 Memphis had a patch-
and Tony Parker added 27. free throws of this series, the work roster with Mike Con-
“I’m seriously thrilled that most to start a postseason ley and Marc Gasol injured
we were able to get series in NBA history. on the bench. Then they
through that first round,” But some of the other Spurs lost to Oklahoma City in six
Popovich said. “That’s the started stepping up as San games. They agreed this
good news. The bad news Antonio turned a 2-2 tie into series against Memphis will
is that we now have to go a series victory. Patty Mills be much better prepara-
play Houston.” came through in San An- tion for what lies ahead.
The Spurs advanced by tonio’s Game 5 win with 20 “It’s an experience that
winning on the road, some- points off the bench, and helps you push through the
thing neither San Antonio he added another 10 Thurs- tough times on the floor,
nor Memphis had man- day night. Manu Ginobili and that’s how you gain
aged against each other ended an 0-of-15 shooting confidence,” Leonard said.
all season long. LaMarcus skid with 10 points off the Leonard said the break also
Aldridge had 17 points and bench in Game 5. will be good for the older
12 rebounds as San Anto- Parker had his best game Spurs, plus himself after a
nio outrebounded Mem- of the series Thursday night, very physical series.
phis 46-28. They got 16 hitting his first six shots and “We can just regroup, get
of those on the offensive finishing with 27 points. He our energy back and get
boards, leading to 17 sec- also had two rebounds our bodies prepared for
ond-chance points. and four assists. The vet- the next round,” Leon-
Parker said the Spurs treat- eran guard, who turns 35 ard said. “It’s going to be
on May 17, was seen icing tougher.”q

Al Roundup

Continued from page 17

INDIANS 4, ASTROS 3 New York Yankees third baseman Chase Headley reaches back to snag a pop foul by Boston
CLEVELAND (AP) — Francisco Lindor hit a long two-run Red Sox’s Xander Bogaerts during the eighth inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park, Thursday,
homer in the seventh inning to lift Cleveland over Hous- April 27, 2017, in Boston.
ton.
Lindor’s 456-foot homer off Chris Devenski (1-1) landed Associated Press
in the visitors bullpen about 50 feet beyond the center
field wall.
Corey Kluber (3-1) struck out 10 and allowed three runs
in seven innings as the defending AL champs took two
of three from the AL West leaders.
Cody Allen pitched out of a ninth-inning jam for his fifth
save and second of the series.
MARINERS 2, TIGERS 1
DETROIT (AP) — Ben Gamel had an RBI single in the ninth
inning to help Seattle beat Detroit.
Kyle Seager doubled off Francisco Rodriguez (1-2) with
one out, and Gamel followed with his hit to right-center
field. Tony Zych (1-0) was the winner, and Edwin Diaz
pitched the ninth for his third save.
Detroit starter Justin Verlander allowed one unearned
run on five hits and two walks in seven innings. He struck
out eight.q