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SAN ANTONIO -- The San Antonio Spurs were not going to believe Serge Ibaka was really injured until the Oklahoma City Thunder took the court in the opener of the Western Conference finals without their athletic big man. Steve Johnson Jersey . Their skepticism was unwarranted. Ibaka is indeed injured and Oklahoma City needs to find a way to replace his defensive presence against San Antonio. Tim Duncan had 27 points and the Spurs took advantage of Ibakas absence to score more than half their points in the paint, beating the Thunder 122-105 Monday night in the opener of the best-of-seven series. Tony Parker did not appear limited by a hamstring injury, adding 14 points and 12 assists in 36 minutes in San Antonios first victory over Oklahoma City this season. Parker and coach Gregg Popovich both said earlier they werent sure if the Thunder would actually be without Ibaka, who injured his left calf in Oklahoma Citys series clincher against the Los Angeles Clippers. "Contrary to what San Antonio was thinking, hes not coming back," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. Thats bad news for Oklahoma City entering Game 2 on Wednesday. San Antonio had 66 points in the paint and shot 58 per cent from the field. It was the highest shooting percentage allowed by the Thunder in the post-season since relocating from Seattle. The Thunder got their usual offensive output from All-Stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, who scored 28 and 25 points, respectively. But Oklahoma Citys remaining starters, Nick Collison, Thabo Sefolosha and Kendrick Perkins, combined to score five points with 13 rebounds and one assist. Collison started in place of Ibaka and was 0 for 3 from the field with three rebounds and one blocked shot. Ibaka was averaging 12.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.23 blocks in 33.9 minutes in the post-season. "We play team defence, we dont just rely on Serge," Durant said. "He does a great job of blocking shots, but its all because of our team defence. Hes a big part of what we do. Hes a starter, had his best season this year, so of course were going to miss his presence, but we have guys that are going to step up and do it collectively." San Antonio planned to attack Oklahoma Citys interior whether Ibaka was playing or not, and found it much easier to do without the athletic 6-foot-10 forward. "We always want to try to penetrate," Parker said. "We always want our ball movement, thats how we play -- kick and pitch and stuff like that. You know, obviously its a little bit better with (Ibaka) not being in the paint, but were still going to try to penetrate and make stuff happen." The Spurs fed Duncan early and the veteran responded by scoring 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting in the opening quarter. Parker, who sustained a Grade 1 left hamstring strain in San Antonios series clincher against Portland, drove the paint and dished to Duncan early before looking for his own shot midway through the quarter. "Thats part of our game plan," Duncan said. "He knew that they werent going to let him shoot the ball like he did in the last series. They were going to try to take that away from him, so he knew he was going to have to be an assist man." Parker scored all but two of his points in the first half. Manu Ginobili took over in the second half, scoring all 18 of his points with a series of breakneck drives and 3-for-4 shooting on 3-pointers. "Just got to do a better job of closing the paint off," Westbrook said. "I thought we did a better job in the second half of just putting more pressure on them, making it tough for them to get inside the paint." After starting Collison and bringing in 7-foot post Steven Adams to spell him and Perkins, Oklahoma City continually altered its lineup in an attempt to derail San Antonios attack. At one point the Thunder had Westbrook and fellow point guards Reggie Jackson and Derek Fisher on the court with Durant playing the post defensively. Duncan responded by dropping in a running hook on Durant. "Were going to have to find lineups that work," Brooks said. "I have faith in all of our guys to step in and do the job, no matter who we put on the floor." With the exception of a pair of free throws by Fisher, Westbrook and Durant scored all of Oklahoma Citys points in a 23-22 third quarter. The Thunder rallied to take a 76-75 lead on Westbrooks 17-foot jumper with 5 minutes left in the third quarter for their first lead since the opening basket of the game. "I think we need more from everybody defensively," Brooks said. "We scored 105 points. ... We scored enough points to win a basketball game. We have to do a better job defensively." San Antonio improved to 7-1 at home in the playoffs, winning its past five games by an average of 20.6 points. The Spurs, however, remember what happened in the 2012 conference finals, when the Thunder won four straight to rally from an 0-2 deficit. "Theyre a talented team," Ginobili said. "Theyre going to watch video; theyre going to fix mistakes. Its going to be harder for sure. Its just one down." NOTES: Durant was assessed a technical foul 30 seconds into the fourth quarter after throwing his fists down in frustration after being assessed a foul. . Boris Diaw was poked in his lower right eyelid early in the game, but returned to shortly thereafter once it was determined there was no structural damage. . Play had to be stopped twice to clean up blood on Collison, who was battling Duncan and Splitter defensively. Bills Jersey . The daughter of Wayne Gretzky, who is engaged to PGA star Dustin Johnson, appears on the cover of the magazine leaning on a golf club in a sports bra and workout tights. Custom Bills Jersey . Her 64-save performance limited the damage as the Canadian women emerged with a 7-0 victory. Obydennova spent the post-game ceremony bent over in exhaustion.In the end, it all came down to a draw to the button. In front of a sold out crowd at The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre in Banff, Alta, Jeff Stoughton and his All-Star team emerged victorious at Sundays Travelers All-Star Curling Skins Game Presented by Pintys final. Team Stoughton defeated five-time TSN skins champion Kevin Martin and his All-Star teammates earlier Sunday afternoon following their semifinal win on Saturday over Team Brad Gushue. In total, Stoughton takes away $70,500 in prize winnings at TSNs two-day All-Star event that featured the Top 16 Canadian mens curlers – as voted by fans. Playing with an All-Star team featuring Dave Nedohin (Third), Brent Laing (Second), and Ryan Harnden (Lead), this victory marks the first TSN skins title for the two-time World Champion Stoughton. Stoughtons prize money from this weekend totals $70,500, which includes $38,000 won in Sundays final, plus $17,500 won in Saturdays semifinal, and a $15,000 winners bonus. After this weekend, Stoughtons career TSN skins game winnings now total $108,500. Martin began the final with an early lead by winning the second end, taking $4,000 following a first end carry-over. Stoughton won the third end and $3,000 to bring the game closer. He then pullled ahead following carry-overs in the fourth and fifth ends to take $13,000 in the sixth end. Nigel Bradham Womens Jersey. Both Stoughton and Martin made incredible shots to force a seventh end carry-over, with the eighth end also going undecided - leading to a sudden death finish. Following a dramatic draw to the button, Stoughtons 11.5 cm shot secured the remaining $22,000 in prize money plus a $15,000 winners bonus - bringing his final tally at the two-day event to $70,500. Stoughton earned his place in Sundays Travelers All-Star Curling Skins Game Presented by Pintys final following his victory over Brad Gushues All-Star squad in Saturday afternoons first semifinal, while Martin advanced following a victory over Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games medal hopeful Brad Jacobs rink in last nights second semifinal. Overall results from the Travelers All-Star Curling Skins Game Presented by Pintys are as follows: - Team Stoughton: $70,500 ($55,500 in skins prize money + $15,000 winners bonus)- Team Martin: $15,500- Team Jacobs: $9,500- Team Gushue: $4,500 ($3,500 in skins prize money + $1,000 draw to the button bonus) Following this weekends event, Martin remains the TSN skins game all-time leader in prize money, having won a record $440,850. ' ' ' |
