OAKLAND, Calif., May 17 (UPI) -- Tony Parker's backbreaking 3-pointer with 1:15 to play Thursday lifted San Antonio into the Western Conference finals with a 94-82 win over Golden State.
The Spurs fought off the Warriors in six games to set up a battle for the conference title with the Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis reached the West finals for the first time in franchise history on Wednesday by ousting Oklahoma City in five games.
San Antonio took a seven-point lead at halftime and remained in front for the rest of the contest. Golden State, however, battled back within three when Jarrett Jack hit two free throws with 2:20 to play.
Kawhi Leonard then hit a 3-pointer for the Spurs with 2:01 left and Golden State was unable to answer when both Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry missed a 3-point attempt.
Related
The Spurs worked the shot clock down on their next possession and Parker ended it by hitting a 3-point shot that wiped out the Warriors' hopes.
San Antonio held Golden State to 38 percent shooting and Tim Duncan led the Spurs' offense by scoring 19 points. Leonard added 16, Diego Splitter had 14 and Parker chipped in 13 to go with eight assists.
Thompson and Curry, whose shooting had carried Golden State to an opening-round triumph over Denver and who gave the Warriors a realistic chance against the Spurs, struggled against the San Antonio defense.
They combined to make just 14-of-37 shots from the field, with Curry scoring 22 points and Thompson managing only 10. For the second game in a row, neither Thompson nor Curry went to the foul line.
