Tim Duncan deserved to go out better than this, if this was indeed the final game of the San Antonio center's Hall of Fame career. His Spurs were eliminated from the playoffs Thursday night in a 113-99 Game 6 loss to the Thunder.
The Spurs, who lost just once at home during the regular season, were beaten twice in San Antonio by the Thunder, who advance to play the Warriors in the Western Conference finals. Duncan had just 17 total points through the first five games of the series, but scored 19 on Thursday.
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Duncan has made the All-Star team 15 times during his 19-year career. With him in the middle, the Spurs have won five NBA titles. He has been named Finals MVP three times while twice being named league MVP. The Spurs selected Duncan with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft and have never missed the playoffs since. The only season in which the Spurs did not win at least 50 games was the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season, when the Spurs went 37-13 and won the NBA championship with Duncan as Finals MVP.
As great as Duncan's career has been, his potential finale was anything but. The Spurs were dominated by the Thunder at Chesapeake Arena. They made a late run in the fourth quarter, but a 28-point deficit was too much to overcome.
Kawhi Leonard led the Spurs with 22 points.
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Both teams started slowly, but the Spurs were able to build a 19-13 lead with 3:57 remaining in the first quarter. The lead didn't last long as the Thunder went on a 14-0 run that stretched into the second quarter. OKC held a 55-31 halftime advantage. The 31 points represented San Antonio's lowest first-half total of the season.
The 24-point halftime margin was the largest deficit the Spurs have faced in the playoffs since 2002, when they were down 57-31 to the Seattle SuperSonics, who are now the Thunder. The Spurs lost that game, too, but won the series.
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Doing most of the damage in Thursday's first half was Kevin Durant, who scored 18 points and had a dagger trey just before halftime. Durant finished with 37 points and nine rebounds while Russell Westbrook had 28 points and 12 assists.
Studs of the Night
Durant led the way for the Thunder, but Serge Ibaka and Steven Adams were the difference-makers in the post. Ibaka had eight points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots, while Adams played perhaps his best game of the series with 15 points and 11 boards.
Dud of the Night
Spurs guard Danny Green struggled, going 3 of 8 from the floor. He finished with nine points.
Tweet of the Night
Spurs: 31 points in the 1st half. It's their fewest points in ANY half since Nov. 6, 2014 (29 in 1st half at HOU) pic.twitter.com/8HSspMBcBF
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 13, 2016
Looking ahead
Raptors at Heat, Game 6, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN (Toronto leads 3-2): The Heat will try to avoid elimination following Wednesday's loss in Toronto. Injuries have hampered them, especially the loss of center Hassan Whiteside. Without their 7-foot rim protector, the Heat haven't had an answer inside for the Raptors, who are also hurting without center Jonas Valanciunas. Toronto's backcourt of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan outplayed Miami guards Dwyane Wade and Goran Dragic.