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| Pau Gasol's huge 3PTer sealed this series-clinching victory. |
Then Kawhi Leonard put on a show, hitting a 3PTer. Jordan Bell would get a nice jam next, but another corner shot by Leonard would bring the Spurs to 109-114. Patty Mills would strip Steph Curry, leading to another 3PT bomb by Leonard (112-114). Curry would dupe the double-team (that SA had been deploying all game long to moderate success) giving Durant an easy layup on the fast break. Kawhi would, again, hit a 3PTer (115-116). Iman Shumpert would block Durant at the rim on a dunk attempt, then Patty Mills would catch a pass from Leonard in transition for a corner 3PTer that rattled in, giving the Spurs the comeback lead (118-116) with 3 minutes left, capping off a 14-4 run.
Leave it to Steph Curry to make a splash from 3PT territory on the ensuing play (118-119); Curry finished with 17 points (7-14%) and 15 assists. Klay Thompson was the high-point man for Golden State. A double-clutch shot down low over Durant went in for Leonard, who made the free throw (121-119). Thompson would miss a wide-open wing three-ball next, alas, as did Kevin Durant after a steal. Bismack Biyombo would be fouled on a strip attempt gone awry, making both free throws to shush the "Waaaarrioors" chanting by the crowd (123-119) at the two-minute warning. Draymond Green would dunk it home off a slick pass by Curry (123-121). Tony Parker would dish it way down the court to a streaking Bismack Biyombo for a terrific slam (125-121), outdone by Jordan Bell on the next fast break (125-123) in this back-and-forth duel.
Iman Shumpert would miss a good shot attempt from long range, but so would Curry from that hapless spot where Thompson & Durant had also missed. A turnover by Shumpert would lead to a layup for Klay Thompson (29 points), knotting the score at last with 49.5 seconds left. Pau Gasol would hit a bunny at the rim, giving the Spurs the 127-125 advantage. An inbound after a timeout led to an instant 3PT attempt by Curry, as Tony Parker gave too much space, but Curry misfired, the ball bouncing in-and-out. 30 seconds remaining, Tony Parker found himself with 5 seconds left on the shot clock. A screen attempt by Gasol failed, as Green blocked it from behind, facing down Parker, but Curry was switched onto Gasol as a result with Draymond Green covering Parker at the center of the 3PT line. The Spaniard would spin loose from Curry, stepping behind the 3PT line at the right wing. Parker would catch the opportunity, dish the rock to Gasol and watch him make the shot of the series to give the Spurs a decisive 130-125 lead. The Warriors could only bow their heads, knowing they were 5 seconds away from a possible shot attempt being missed and potentially having the ball with the chance to take the lead or tie the game with 16 seconds left in the game.
The inbound to Durant would be stripped by Kawhi Leonard, as the Spurs regained the ball, drawing the foul, making both free throws. Final score, 132-125. Omri Casspi would take a 3PTer, but would miss. The Spurs would run out the clock, as the crowd fell into a constant "Booooo!" as the Western Conference Finals trophy was handed to Kawhi Leonard, Coach Popovich clapping in support of his team.
Klay Thompson would embrace new-Spur Mario Hezonja (whose play recently had propelled him into the starting lineup), likely seeing some of his own game in the cocky but promising Croatian. Previously on the Magic, Hezonja had his team option denied by Orlando before he was traded to San Antonio. Now on Twitter, the NBA fanbase has said things like: "Predicting Hezonja to be 6MOY (sixth man of the year) candidate after leaving Orlando." Clearly, the Spurs like what they're seeing out of him, as they now face one more meeting with the Cavaliers.