Game 2: Dallas at San Antonio (April 20) Josh Howard hit 1-2 FT 40 seconds into the game and that would Dallas' only points over the first 3 minutes of the game and San Antonio took an early 8-1 lead with 8:45 remaining (Dallas did connect on 2 free throws and a jumper over the next minute to finally get their scoring going). San Antonio continued to hold a single-digit lead and led 18-13 with 4:30 to go. The Spurs then scored the next 6 minutes to take their first double-digit lead at 24-13 with 2:50 left. The lead see-sawed between 9 and 11 points over the rest of the quarter. San Antonio led 30-19 after 1. Tony Parker went nuts in the quarter and matched Dallas' scoring with 19 points, including 9-11 FG. A 3-pointer by George Mason gave the Spurs a 41-26 lead with 9:05 left. San Antonio scored 7 straight points to take their first 20+ point lead at 51-30 with 4:15 remaining. Dallas finally responded and went on an 11-2 run to pull within 41-53 with 1:25 to go. San Antonio led 57-46 at the half. Parker was up to 27 points, including 12-16 FG. For the half, San Antonio shot 57% (25-44) FG and Dallas shot 43% (15-35) FG. A 3-pointer by J.J. Barea and dunk by Erick Dampier pulled Dallas within 52-61 with 9 minutes left, but San Antonio then scored the next 13 points to go up 74-52 with 5:20 left. A 3-pointer by Bruce Bowen and dunk by Michael Finley gave the Spurs their largest lead at 79-54 with 3:50 to go. San Antonio led in the 20s the rest of the quarter. San Antonio led 85-63 after 3. Dallas only shot 6-21 FG in the 3rd quarter as San Antonio out-scored Dallas 28-17 in the quarter. The game remained a blowout in the 4th quarter with Dallas only pulling within 18 points (once). Dallas waved the white flag and pulled the stars with 6 minutes to go. San Antonio won 105-84. The series is tied 1-1. It was an inspired performance by Tony Parker and an uninspired performance by Dallas. Parker was stellar and no Mav player had a good game, with their stars having subpar performances. Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, and Jason Terry combined for just 37 points including 12-37 FG. Worse was Dallas' non-effort for rebounds. Dallas tied a team playoff record low with just 28 rebounds and had just 5 offensive rebounds (one off the playoff record). Inexcusable with the Mavs shooting just 40% FG. No Mav had more than 6 rebounds. But give San Antonio credit - they needed this win after having lost Game 1 and made adjustments and came out with a solid performance. But Dallas looked like they were just happy with the one win. For the game, San Antonio shot 53.2% (42-79) FG including 7-18 3-pointers. Dallas shot 40.3% (29-72) FG including 6-18 3-pointers. San Antonio shot 14-17 FT and Dallas shot 20-23 FT. San Antonio out-rebounded Dallas 44-28 including 9-5 offensive. Dallas only led a minute of game time (1-0). Tony Parker was fantastic with 38 points including 16-22 FG, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals in 33 minutes. No Mav was able to stay in front of him or slow him down in this game. Though he had a double-double, Tim Duncan was fairly quiet with just 13 points. He also had 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks. After not scoring in Game 1, Matt Bonner had 11 points including 3-4 3-pointers (and 0-5 2-pointers). He also had 7 rebounds. Roger Mason had 12 points and 3 assists. Michael Finley was the only starter not in double-digits with just 5 points, on 2-7 FG. He also had 5 rebounds. Drew Gooden had 13 points including 6-9 FG and 3 rebounds. Ime Udoka only had 2 points on 1-6 FG, but also had 7 rebounds. Bruce Bowen had 7 points on a perfect 2-2 FG, 1-1 3-pointers, and 2-2 FT and 3 rebounds. No Mav had a performance worth mentioning. Quotes Gregg Popovich: "The difference in the game for us tonight I think was the boards. We did a better job on the boards and didn't give up 21 points in offensive boards, 2nd-chance points, put-backs, what ever. And that really hurt us in Game 1 and tonight we did a better job at that and it helped us both at the defensive end and pushing the basketball back the other way." Popovich on Parker: "He was very aggressive, both going to the hole and shooting the jumpshot, which always makes us a better team, I think. That is standard for any team - if you're being aggressive offensively, it obviously helps, not only for you but for your teammates. He did a good job of staying aggressive and keeping it that way, of not drifting or taking anything for granted. He was very focused the whole game." Popovich on Bonner: "Matt, he's a hustle-type guy. He will do his best to get open and he works hard on the boards. How important is it, I guess it's also important for everyone to play well. But he spreads the court well for us, and that's the important part of what he does for us." Popovich: "One would hope that you would come back from a loss with aggression and determination. And I think all teams that are in the playoffs do that. So I'm sure that Dallas is going come back very dedicated and come back after us hard on Thursday. You know, they did their job. They came here and won a game and they're in great shape. They did what they wanted to do." Popovich: "We continued to make some shots, we continued to score, and we didn't do that in the 1st game - we had a dry spell. We also played better defense. We got rebounds and we didn't give them 2nd chance points at that particular time. But I think in Game 1, they had everything going for them in that respect. But that's basketball." Tim Duncan: "We talked about sustaining and obviously we had a great start to the game and got out to a lead and understood that in the 3rd and 4th quarter last game we let off the gas. We wanted to stay solid and I think we did a good job of that, playing for all 48 minutes." Duncan on the difference between Game 1 and 2: "Better bounces for us. A little more focus on knowing what they want to do and trying to clean up some of their stuff. I thought we did a better defensive job of contesting shots and we blocked a couple shots and kept it off the glass." Duncan on Bonner: "He was great for us. He did a much better job of moving and finding the open spot and making them respect that. We're going to continue to work for that and, when TP [Parker] is playing the way he is, those guys are going to be wide open all over the floor." Duncan: "Defensively and offensively and even when they made a run and got the lead to under 10, we didn't panic. We went back to what we were doing and pushed it back up." Tony Parker: "Game 2, I was trying to be very aggressive, attack the basket, and make sure we react and play with a lot of energy. From the get-go, we were very aggressive. Our defense was great. It was a great win for us." Parker: "We didn't panic. We watched film and see what we did bad in Game 1 and made some adjustments. And Game 2 was a lot better for us. So hopefully we can care that and do the same thing in Game 3." Parker: "I was just trying to be aggressive. It was a must win for us, big game. And I'm happy we won the game. We came out with a lot of energy and our defense was great tonight." Parker on defense: "That's what we need. We need to play aggressive defense and make sure we don't give anything easy to Nowitzki and Jason Terry and hopefully we can control the other guys too. So tonight it was a great win for us." Roger Mason: "We played well. I think defensively, our focus from the start of the game was key. Obviously, Tony was outstanding. He was just leading us and making shots and that's the way we need to play." Mason: "We were desperate tonight. We had a great start last game and we let them come back. Tonight we said even if we're up 20 or 15, we're going to keep playing. We did that. And they're going to score points but we want to make it tough on them." Mason on hedging on the pick-and-rolls: "We wanted to make them uncomfortable. Last game, we let Barea have too much space and he hurt us. I think tonight we focused in on it. Tim and the big guys did a great job on hedging out and we were able to contest their shots." Mason on Bonner: "I was in Matt's ear at every timeout. He's one of the best shooters in the league and we need that. We need him to be super aggressive and tonight he did that." Rick Carlisle: "Disappointing game from our perspective, obviously. San Antonio really brought up their level of aggression, I thought, at the defensive end and they were very good offensively. And we're going to have, obviously, to do better at both ends ourselves. The 1st and 3rd quarters were our undoing. We just got off to a bad start. In the 3rd, we got down to 9 and then they got it to 16 or 17 and we just couldn't get a handle on the game at that point. You know, we've got to regroup and we've got to do a lot of things better." Carlisle on the bench not being as effective as Game 1: "Our whole team wasn't as effective. I wouldn't point to the bench - we just struggled. I thought it was their aggressive posture that had more to do with it than anything. We're going to have to, as I said, be better at both ends. And I thought we were playing hard, it's just that they were really just super aggressive." Carlisle: "We're going to have to just play better overall. Again, We gave up 39% 3-point shooting and give up 53% from the floor. You can talk about individual matchups, but overall our team is going to have to play better defensively - that will help our offense. We're going to have to put the ball in the hole when we have the opportunities. Look, Bowen's a guy they're going to put on either the best perimeter player or the guy that's causing a problem at that point in time. He does a great job and we're just going to have to do better." Carlisle on if the team was content with a split: "I didn't think so. I thought we were playing hard and they just took it to another level tonight - that was the difference. We were never able to meet their level of intensity and it wasn't that we weren't playing hard - they just ramped it up higher." Carlisle: "Again, I think we're going to have to be better defensively. We're going to always get better shots and be able to get our better players shots when we're getting stops. It's much harder when you're taking the ball out of the other team's basket. Look, we're going to have to work to get Dirk and JET more good looks. I mean, they're obviously a priority defensively for them. That's going to be on the coaching staff to do. and we're going to have to do that in the next couple of days, obviously." Carlisle on when the opponent is shooting so well: "You're got to be better with your coverages. I think when we go look at the film we're going to find that there are areas that we can approve on, obviously. It's tough with a guy like Parker who has great quickness, he's just a difficult guy to deal with. But it's a 5-man responsibility. We're going to have to keep throwing a bunch of different guys at him. But he's tough, he's tough and we're going to have to do better." Dirk Nowitzki: "We certainly didn't expect them to lay down. You know, they're fighters. They really executed their game plan a lot better than they did the other night. We didn't have much going offensively. And then defensively, we never got ahold of Parker - you know, he had 19 points in the 1st quarter and it was a layup drill out there. He was shooting the ball well, moving under the screen-and-rolls. He was fantastic tonight." Nowitzki on San Antonio's defense on him: "Well, they did the same as the other night, and I don't think that's going to change for the rest of the series. Where ever I get the ball, they're going to come. I got some good looks there, I thought, in the 2nd half and basically missed a couple of shots. I got to foul line early in the 1st half, made some good moves. In the 2nd half, got some good looks, but when you're down 20 you try to shoot some 3s, and they just didn't go in." Nowitzki: "I guess a split in San Antonio in a tough building is not bad. But when you get that first one, you want to find a way to get the second one, too." Nowitzki on his injuries: "I was just a little banged up tonight - hit my thumb, rolled my ankle there on that one foul. But that's what the playoffs is all about, you know, stuff happens. The good thing is we got 2 days off now and I'll be fresh on Thursday." Jason Terry: "They were the aggressive team on both ends of the floor and they really made a statement tonight. They weren't going to lay down, and I don't think we thought they were going to lay down. But the head of the snake - Tony Parker - we've got to do something to contain him and we've got 2 days to figure it out." Terry on containing Parker: "We'll figure it out. But guys have to take it personal and take the challenge. I know you look at yourself first and he got 3 quick easy ones on me, so I'll watch the film and make an adjustment accordingly." Terry on the difference in this game: "Well, they made their adjustments and they paid more attention to our role players. So, that's what it is - a series is games of adjustments. And coming back home, where we feel comfortable, we're going to have come and to bring the fight." Terry: "We need to stay positive and up beat. We are ready to get home for Game 3. The Spurs did exactly what they needed to do tonight. Tonight was a must win for the Spurs. We're going back to Dallas in a similar situation - we need to win Game 3. You have to give the Spurs all the credit tonight because they out worked us on both ends of the court." Terry: "The Spurs keyed on both Dirk and me during Game 1 and Game 2 the only difference was our lack of execution tonight. You have to take you're hat off to Tony Parker, he played well and really stepped up for his team. When you give up 23 [actually 19] 1st quarter points, that's just unacceptable. We need to adjust our game plan and really hone on Tony during Game 3. Tony is the head of the snake and we need to make someone else beat us to have a chance." Terry: "The Spurs were keyed in tonight. They didn't allow our guys to make the easy baskets and we expected that from them. The Spurs are champions for a reason. Now it's time for us to go home and put forth a good effort Thursday night." Terry: "The series is tied 1-1 and that's as positive as we could have expected coming into San Antonio. If you lose by 1 or 30, it's still 1 game. Now it's time for us to dust off and get after it." J.J Barea: "The Spurs came out on fire tonight. We tried what we could, but the Spurs weren't losing. They made the necessary adjustments and played great basketball." Barea: "The Spurs killed us on every end of the court. We need to go home and have a couple of good practices and get ready for Thursday." 2009 NBA Playoffs - First Round Game 2: San Antonio Spurs 105, Dallas Mavericks 84 at San Antonio (April 20) 1st 2nd 3rd 4th - Final 2FG 3FG FG% FT% San Antonio 30 27 28 20 - 105 .574 .389 .532 .824 Dallas 19 27 17 21 - 84 .426 .333 .403 .870 Halftime: San Antonio 57-46 3rd Q: San Antonio 85-63 Technicals: San Antonio defensive 3 seconds 11:12 3rd Flagrant Foul: Jason Terry (level 1) 4:16 2nd Refs: Mark Wunderlich, Joe Forte, Tom Washington Attendance: 18,797 (sellout) IL: San Antonio - Manu Ginobili, Ian Mahinmi, Marcus Williams Dallas - Devean George, Jerry Stackhouse, Shawne Williams San Antonio Spurs REB Player MIN FGM-FGA 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA PTS O-T AST TO PF STL BLK Michael Finley 25 2-7 1-2 0-0 5 1-5 0 1 1 0 1 Tim Duncan 28 5-10 0-0 3-3 13 2-11 5 2 0 0 3 Matt Bonner 29 3-9 3-4 2-2 11 4-7 0 0 2 0 1 Roger Mason 27 5-11 2-6 0-0 12 0-1 3 1 3 0 0 Tony Parker 33 16-22 0-2 6-9 38 0-4 8 3 2 2 0 Ime Udoka 22 1-6 0-3 0-0 2 1-7 1 0 2 1 0 Bruce Bowen 29 2-2 1-1 2-2 7 0-3 0 2 1 1 0 Kurt Thomas 13 1-2 0-0 0-0 2 0-3 0 1 5 0 0 Drew Gooden 19 6-9 0-0 1-1 13 1-3 0 2 2 1 0 Fabricio Oberto 5 1-1 0-0 0-0 2 0-0 0 1 2 0 0 George Hill 5 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 Jacque Vaughn 5 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 2 0 0 0 0 Totals 48 42-79 7-18 14-17 105 9-44 19 13 20 5 5 Dallas Mavericks REB Player MIN FGM-FGA 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA PTS O-T AST TO PF STL BLK Josh Howard 30 3-8 0-0 1-2 7 1-3 2 2 3 0 0 Dirk Nowitzki 39 3-14 0-4 8-9 14 0-6 3 0 1 2 0 Erick Dampier 23 3-5 0-0 3-3 9 2-4 0 1 3 2 2 Antoine Wright 16 1-4 1-2 0-0 3 0-1 0 0 3 0 0 Jason Kidd 39 6-10 2-3 0-0 14 0-4 5 1 1 3 1 Jason Terry 31 6-15 2-6 2-3 16 1-2 1 1 2 1 0 Brandon Bass 21 2-4 0-0 4-4 8 0-3 2 1 0 1 1 J.J. Barea 23 2-8 1-2 0-0 5 0-2 4 1 1 0 0 Ryan Hollins 6 1-1 0-0 2-2 4 1-2 0 0 2 0 0 Gerald Green 5 2-2 0-0 0-0 4 0-1 0 2 0 0 0 James Singleton 5 0-1 0-1 0-0 0 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 Matt Carroll 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 48 29-72 6-18 20-23 84 5-28 17 12 17 9 4 patricia Go Mavs!