Game 5 in a 2-2 series is as pivotal as an NBA playoff game gets.
Follow live as the Oklahoma City Thunder take on the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center in San Antonio with the inside track at representing the Western Conference in the 2012 NBA Finals on the line.
Going back to the second quarter, the San Antonio Spurs are currently on a 12-2 run. Tim Duncan getting some quick second half points is a key reason, as is the game of hot potato that the Thunder seem to be playing. Turnovers and terrible shot selection early on from OKC.
Tony Parker makes this a three-point game and Scott Brooks is forced to call a timeout.
Third Quarter, 9:58 remaining: Oklahoma City Thunder 52 - 49 San Antonio Spurs
"Basketball is not about X's and O's. It's about making decisions with the players involved in those X's and O's." - Kenny Smith
Ibaka with the monster slam.
For half time entertainment, debate this...
Which was better? Tim Duncan's dunk on Serge Ibaka? Or Serge Ibaka's revenge?
Hit the comments section and let us know!
Gregg Popovich and the Spurs have to breathing a major sigh of relief that this game is not even further out of reach. This has been an embarrasment on the Spurs' behalf and they have no business being in this game.
You have to feel bad for Manu Ginobili, who has had a monster half with 14 point, 5 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 steals. Nothing there to help him. No desire to win for the San Antonio Spurs.
Oklahoma City, meanwhile, have been magnificent in terms of moving the basketball. 14 assists on 19 field goals is unheard of. How about 8 points from Daequan Cook?
Let's see which trend continues.
End of the Second Quarter: Oklahoma City Thunder 52 - 44 San Antonio Spurs
Oklahoma City Thunder Leaders
Points: 10 - Russell Westbrook
Rebounds: 5 - Serge Ibaka
Assists: 7 - Russell Westbrook
Steals: 3 - Russell Westbrook
Blocks: 1 - Three Tied
San Antonio Spurs
Points: 14 - Manu Ginobili
Rebounds: 5 - Manu Ginobili & Tim Duncan
Assists: 5 - Manu Ginobili
Steals: 2 - Manu Ginobili
Blocks: N/A
This has to be the worst offensive execution in the history of the San Antonio Spurs. No direction, poor decision making and countless turnovers. This is embarrassing for anyone familiar with the Spurs' storied franchise.
How well are the Oklahoma City Thunder moving the basketball? They have 15 assists on 18 field goals. 7 assists from Russell Westbrook.
Manu Ginobili continues to carve up the Oklahoma City Thunder's defense. Unfortunately, the rest of the San Antonio Spurs have seemingly forgot that this game means something. Halftime adjustments are certainly in store.
Second Quarter, 3:04 remaining: Oklahoma City Thunder 45 - 36 San Antonio Spurs
Serge Ibaka tallies his first block of the night and he's rapidly making the Thunder's Big Three into a Big Four. I'll take his consistent contributions over a Sixth Man any day.
Second Quarter, 6:09 remaining: Oklahoma City Thunder 41 - 36 San Antonio Spurs
Stephen Jackson has quietly put together one of the more impressively consistent Western Conference Finals of any player on the Spurs. Daequan Cook, meanwhile, has been a non-factor who seems to have finally found his touch.
Tiago Splitter, Cook and Jackson. Who would have thought that they'd account for 12 consecutive points?
Second Quarter, 6:59 remaining: Oklahoma City Thunder 40 - 36 San Antonio Spurs
Manu Ginobili grabs his own rebound and puts it in on the And-One. Serge Ibaka has shown great poise and maturity in this series, not allowing himself to get into foul trouble tonight and not playing out of his element in any other games.
Exceptional progress.
Serge Ibaka already contributing after missing the entirety of the first quarter due to foul trouble, picking up an early two points. His defensive attack, however, is visibly different. Holding back on a block opportunity due to foul trouble.
The Oklahoma City Thunder close out this quarter on an 18-6 run and currently own a five-point lead. Significant progress considering Serge Ibaka picked up his second foul just a minute into the game and the Spurs went into the bonus with 9:59 remaining.
Manu Ginobili has been unstoppable, however the rest of the Spurs have failed to join him in the efficiency. OKC as a whole has scored well, but neither team has been too impressive.
Sloppy first quarter.
End of the First Quarter: Oklahoma City Thunder 26 - 21 San Antonio Spurs
Oklahoma City Thunder Leaders
Points: 6 - Nick Collison & Russell Westbrook
Rebounds: 3 - Thabo Sefolosha
Assists: 3 - Russell Westbrook
Steals: 3 - Russell Westbrook
Blocks: 1 - Nick Collison
San Antonio Spurs
Points: 7 - Manu Ginobili
Rebounds: 4 - Manu Ginobili
Assists: 3 - Manu Ginobili
Steals: 2 - Manu Ginobili
Blocks: N/A
Still unsure of why people are referring to Derek Fisher's legendary 0.4 shot. As if making one lucky shot (love the guy, but it's true) means he'll hit another. I'm also pretty sure the Spurs beat the Lakers the following season and won the title.
Anyhow, Manu Ginobili exacts some revenge and punishes Fisher for flopping via a stutter-step three. Thunder remain in attack mode, though, and the Spurs are struggling to respond.
Neither team should feel good about this quarter of play. Absolute disappointment.
First Quarter, 2:13 remaining: Oklahoma City Thunder 19 - 17 San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are re-defining the term "playing small." Four guards and DeJuan Blair at the 5. So far it has led to turnovers and a 9-2 run from the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Tony Parker is doing all he can but he appears to be rushing each possession. Russell Westbrook, meanwhile, is pacing the Thunder to some beautiful offensive execution. He is, indeed, a point guard.
Nick Collison takes the charge on Tim Duncan, who heads to the bench with his second foul. Key players have found themselves in foul trouble early in this game, making the referee's postseason reputation all the weaker.
Not a big Twitter fan, but #LetThemPlay.
Gary Neal enters the game for Manu Ginobili, who has been brilliant on the defensive end of the floor. The Spurs are a very deep team with some of the most mature young players you will find in the NBA. OKC knows a bit about that, though.
It's been ugly early on, with the Spurs forcing fouls but failing to control the ball or score consistently from the field. Oklahoma City, meanwhile, can't seem to do anything right.
Not so pretty.
First Quarter, 6:48 remaining: Oklahoma City Thunder 5 - 11 San Antonio Spurs
How about that? Tim Duncan commits the foul and Kendrick Perkins is called for the technical for screaming at the ref after a play. He continues to chip away at the referee and is displaying the immaturity that has hindered him throughout his career.
Losing Ibaka and Perkins may just end the game right there.
Despite the Spurs' success in drawing fouls, neither team has hit a field goal. That's three and a half minutes until Nick Collison dunks it.
Yeah, that Nick Collison.
The Spurs are in the bonus just two minutes and one second into the game. Aggressive play early on and the Oklahoma City Thunder appear lost and confused as the Spurs are going for an early kill.
First Quarter, 9:59 remaining: Oklahoma City Thunder 0 - 5 San Antonio Spurs
That's two fouls on Serge Ibaka and he's headed to the bench. Brilliant play by Manu Ginobili to force the foul just one minute into the game!
First Quarter, 11:07 remaining: Oklahoma City Thunder 0 - 3 San Antonio Spurs
Oklahoma City Thunder:
PG: Russell Westbrook
SG: Thabo Sefolosha
SF: Kevin Durant
PF: Serge Ibaka
C: Kendrick Perkins
San Antonio Spurs
PG: Tony Parker
SG: Manu Ginobili
SF: Kawhi Leonard
PF: Boris Diaw
C: Tim Duncan
First time Manu Ginobili will be in the starting lineup for a playoff game since 2007. Spurs control the opening tip and Tony Parker instantly draws the foul on Kendrick Perkins.
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