Game Preview: Round 2, Game 2 – San Antonio Spurs vs Golden State Warriors

May 6, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) looks at the score board during the second half in game one of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors at the AT

Besides me, who else has been counting down the hours for this day to come? We are in for another, high impact, entertaining game tonight at the AT&T Center.  I can’t get enough of the play of the San Antonio Spurs in the fourth period going on the 18-2 run to finish the quarter and send the game into overtime.

As you know, the rest after that was history.

The Spurs showed first hand that there are two halves to a basketball game and that you never quit until that final horn sounds.  For the Golden State Warriors, the pre-mature celebration came back to bite them in the rear.

The Spurs overcame Stephen Curry’s 44 points and became the first team in postseason history to rally from a 16-point deficit with 4 minutes remaining and earned a 129-127 victory in double overtime on Monday.

Curry shot 9 for 12 in the third and was 4 for 6 on 3-pointers. At one point in the third quarter, he lost his dribble, calmly scooped up the ball and made a jumper from the top of the key in one fluid motion that exasperated Tony Parker.

Limiting Curry’s production in Game 2 is key to San Antonio preserving its home-court advantage.

Spurs Gregg Popovich told NBA.Com the obvious, hold down Curry.

“We’d like to figure out how to hold Curry below 40,” Popovich said. “I’ve got like 10 phone calls out for people asking for suggestions. He’s unbelievable, unbelievable. He’s something to watch.”

Easier said than done right?  Love him or hate him, there is one thing you can’t take away from this kid and that is he is a pure shooter and scorer.  Popovich did make the defensive adjustment as he put Kawhi Leonard on Curry which helped cool him down.  Leonard standing at 6 foot 7 with the long wingspan can make things difficult for Curry.

They held Curry to just six points following the third quarter.

What is on Spurs minds also would be the health of Tim Duncan.  Duncan left the game with 3 minutes left in regulation and only played the final seconds of each overtime.

Duncan said he was feeling better Tuesday morning. Here is what he told NBA.Com

“I was in the locker room watching it as we were getting closer and closer,” Duncan said. “I debated whether even coming back out there. Whatever superstition or whatever it may be, I wanted to stay right where I was. It felt bad coming out there and they get a lead again, but was just great to see everything going the way we wanted it go.”

The AT&T Center will be as loud as it was on Monday night.  This is playoff basketball.

Probable Starting Lineups

Point GuardsTony Parker – Stephan Curry

Shooting GuardsDanny Green – Klay Thompson

Small ForwardsKawhi Leonard – Harrison Barnes

Power ForwardsTim Duncan – Carl Landry

CentersAron Baynes – Andrew Bogut

Key Bench PlayersManu Ginobili, Gary Neal, Matt Bonner – Jarrett Jack, David Lee, Draymond Green

Head CoachesGregg Popovich – Mark Jackson

Game and Broadcast Information

When: Wednesday, May 8 2013 at 8:30 PM Central TimeWhere: AT&T Center – San Antonio, TexasTelevision: TNT (National) Radio: News Radio 1200 AM WOAI (Local)

For the Golden State Warriors perspective, check out Fansided’s own Blue Man Hoop.