Western Conference Finals: Spurs eliminate Warriors, outlast Durant's flurry (4-1).

The Spurs led 36-24 after the first quarter, riding the spark of Rudy Gay (14 points) and Avery Bradley (10 points). The lead would increase by halftime, 69-52, as the Warriors seemed nonchalant and surprisingly unconcerned. While Golden State (especially Kevin Durant) would eventually make haste and realize the sand leaving the hourglass on their season, it would be too late as the Spurs led 95-83 into the final period.

Davis Bertans knocked down consecutive three-pointers, followed by Dejounte Murray showing promise from long range due to defensive slack by the Warriors. The question of "Why did it take so long?" would accompany Steph Curry's wild display of long range crescendos, but Kawhi Leonard made some ballsy shots over Kevin Durant in response. 117, 101: San Antonio. Durant would take the challenge, albeit too late, and cut the lead to five showing his scoring repertoire, causing a chill over the crowd that they'd rather have done without.

Then Leonard caught a pass from Mills in the corner, raced out to the wing and stepped back, draining a 3PT dagger for a 119-130 advantage. Leonard finished with 20 points, as did Mills (five 3PTers), and Murray had 19 points with 7 assists. Skal Labissiere had 14, Gasol with twelve and Bertans splashed in 11. Joakim Noah had 13 rebounds down low.

In the narrow defeat, Durant bowed out of playoff contention with 28 points and 9 rebounds off six 3PT shots. Klay Thompson had a solid outing with 22 points but Steph Curry went 6-13 for just 15 points with 7 assists, making only a trio of long balls. Demarcus Cousins had his worst output of the series with 13 points, 13 rebounds. Shaun Livingston contributed 11 points, with Draymond Green notching 16 points, 7 rebounds & 7 assists.

Overall, the Spurs impressively made 22 three-point shots and crushed Golden State's bench 64 to 25, as the Warriors lost the ball fourteen times. The notable run by the Warriors of 36-35 in the 4th Quarter was exciting and worrisome for the San Antonio crowd, but the first quarter hole and lackadaisical early effort were too much to overcome for the Warriors. The Spurs will engage the Bucks for the Larry O'Brien trophy next, as the season series was split (with the Bucks snapping the historic win streak by San Antone).