TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Last season NBA finalist, San Antonio Spurs, in the meantime leads 1-0 from Dallas Mavericks in the first NBA playoffs. Playing in their home, AT&T Centers, Spurs won 90-85 to their guest, Monday, April 21, 2014, Indonesian Time.
Tim Duncan became the star in the play after achieving the the highest score, 27 points, beating Devin Harris from Mavericks with only achieving 19 points. Duncan was pulled from the field in the third quarter due to his injury. But Greg g Popovich, Spurs coach, put Duncan back in the play in the forth quarter.
Duncan said that he knew that there will not be any problem and that just needed some time to rest. Back from the reserve bench, Duncan brings Spurs to minimize the gap that have been left behind from the Mavericks that was leading 10 points, 81-71, in the forth quarter.
According to Popovich, Duncan's appearance was very important to the team, it did not matter if he scored or not. He said that he could bring the team in a comfort operation.
In the first quarter, Spurs lead far 21-12. Mavericks rised and deuced the position to 65-65 in the third quarter, that made the game very interesting. When Mavericks was leading 10 points, Dirk Nowitzki and friends failed to take advantage of the situation.
Twelve times shot to the basket by Macevericks failed to make points. Instead, Spurs turned to rise and led the score 83-81 through a lay up shot by Tony Parker. A free throw by Ginobilli finally ended the game for Spurs' victory.
Parker said that the game against Mavericks often occured tight. A team that has various attacks, said Parker, will have the chance to win. He also said that they still have a long way to go and that his team have not had a good self confidence.
Duncan said that it is not easy to change a regular game situation into a playoff game, especially when Mavericks is seen to have prepared to battle Spurs.
For the Mavericks, Spurs are very good at doing attacks. Nowitzki stated that the way Spurs attack made their opponents uncomfortable in playing. Both teams will meet again on Wednesday, April 23, 2014, US time.
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