Through 28 minutes Monday Tony Parker had 20 points even though the Spurs team had not hit a single three-point shot. The table below documents each of Parker’s 37 points and six assists, starting with Parker overcoming the last deficit (4-6) by scoring or assisting on 12 straight Spurs points to give San Antonio a 16-10 lead and they never trailed again. When Parker did finally drive and kick to Danny Green for the Spurs first three-pointer, the Spurs led 57-48 en route to sweeping the Western Conference finals.
The insistance on driving to the hoop and ignoring the three-point line was the same strategy Miami used in dominating, taking a page from the Heats’ dominant performance Sunday. The Heat went 17 minutes without a three-pointer until Ray Allen hit one to take a 68-54 lead IN THE FIRST HALF. If the Heat wins the next two games against the Pacers, then both the Spurs and Heat would meet for the NBA title with identical 12-2 playoff records.
Tony Parker was just masterful to that end. He weaved throughout the Grizzlies defense, hitting 14 of his first 17 shots while dishing out five assists in his best game of the season.
Defensive player of the year Marc Gasol gave the Grizzlies their only moment of hope. he accidentally poked Parker in the eye on one jumper, actually stopping to help him up and apparently apologize while play continued. Parker went to the locker room, but returned shortly thereafter. In the final minute, Gasol played brilliant defense on the smaller Parker 30 feet from the basket and knocked the ball off his leg to give the Grizzlies the ball trailing only 89-84.
However, Zach Randolph (pictured defending Parker) missed one of two free throws at the other end, and then Parker drove back through the entire team to draw a foul and make it 91-85 with two free throws en route to the 93-86 win and four game sweep.
| Qu | TIME | Tony Parker’s Scoring Players (37 points and 6 assists) | SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7:33 | ASSIST TO Kawhi Leonard makes two point shot | 6–6 |
| 1 | 7:11 | Tony Parker makes two point shot | 8–6 |
| 1 | 6:28 | ASSIST TO Tim Duncan makes 20-foot jumper | 10–6 |
| 1 | 5:56 | Tony Parker makes two point shot | 12–8 |
| 1 | 4:45 | Tony Parker makes two point shot | 14-10 |
| 1 | 4:13 | Tony Parker makes 22-foot jumper | 16-10 |
| 2 | 7:30 | Tony Parker makes 19-foot two point shot | 30-20 |
| 2 | 0:55 | ASSIST TO Tim Duncan makes dunk | 42-31 |
| 2 | 0:26 | Tony Parker makes layup | 44-34 |
| 3 | 11:37 | Tony Parker makes free throw 1 of 2 | 45-38 |
| 3 | 11:37 | Tony Parker makes free throw 2 of 2 | 46-38 |
| 3 | 11:03 | ASSIST TO Tim Duncan makes 19-foot jumper | 48-40 |
| 3 | 10:26 | Tony Parker makes layup | 50-42 |
| 3 | 9:42 | Tony Parker makes 22-foot jumper | 52-42 |
| 3 | 8:27 | Tony Parker makes 17-foot jumper | 54-46 |
| 3 | 7:28 | ASSIST TO Danny Green makes Spurs 1st 3-point jumper | 57-48 |
| 3 | 6:16 | Tony Parker makes 16-foot jumper | 61-51 |
| 3 | 5:09 | Tony Parker makes 10-foot two point shot | 63-51 |
| 3 | 4:31 | Tony Parker makes layup | 65-54 |
| 4 | 9:14 | Tony Parker makes 24-foot three point jumper | 79-73 |
| 4 | 8:12 | ASSIST TO Tim Duncan makes dunk | 81-73 |
| 4 | 7:39 | Tony Parker makes 12-foot two point shot | 83-75 |
| 4 | 4:13 | Tony Parker makes 18-foot jumper | 89-81 |
| 4 | 0:29 | Tony Parker makes free throw 1 of 2 | 90-86 |
| 4 | 0:29 | Tony Parker makes free throw 2 of 2 | 91-86 |
| 4 | 0:21 | Tony Parker makes free throw 1 of 2 | 92-86 |
| 4 | 0:21 | Tony Parker makes free throw 2 of 2 | 93-86 |
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