Game 5 Grades: Thunder 108, Spurs 103

DeJuan Blair, C 6:48 MIN | 1-1 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 0 AST | 2 PTS | -10

Definitely did not get the type of production we wanted out of Blair, but I still feel like if he was unleashed earlier, Blair could have got into a groove. Grade: D

Matt Bonner, PF 0:50 MIN | 0-0 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 0 AST | 0 PTS | -3

I remember him stepping in for a second, and thankfully, never saw him again. Grade: Incomplete

Boris Diaw, PF 24:49 MIN | 2-5 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 3 AST | 5 PTS | +10

Even with Perkins and Ibaka struggling a bit tonight, Diaw struggled, but did not rely as much on the three and got down low, and I hope to see that more in Game 6. Grade: C+

Tim Duncan, C 33:09 MIN | 7-10 FG | 4-5 FT | 12 REB | 3 AST | 18 PTS | +17

Just seeing his look of pain made me upset. Duncan, as old as he is, played his heart out. For a split-second, I thought he was about to pull up that three at the end of the game, but it was Manu who needed to take it. I know Duncan is going to play like it’s his last Wednesday. Hopefully it isn’t. Grade: A

Manu Ginobili, SG 38:26 MIN | 11-21 FG | 7-8 FT | 6 REB | 7 AST | 34 PTS | +13

Ginobili got the start tonight, and if you just forget about the loss for a minute, this is yet another one of his classic performances. He didn’t get the game-tying bucket, but what a game for Manu. Hope his intensity can sustain in Game 6. Grade: A+

Danny Green, G 3:47 MIN | 0-2 FG | 0-1 FT | 1 REB | 1 AST | 0 PTS | -5

Manu took most of Green’s playing time, so not much to say here. Green will have to do some serious work to earn back his spot. Grade: D

Stephen Jackson, SG 30:12 MIN | 5-9 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 3 AST | 13 PTS | -15

Still continuing to knock down those trey’s, and he’s been a pleasant surprise for this series. Jack has shown up and provided good points off the bench. Defense is the only thing he needs improvement. Grade: B+

Kawhi Leonard, SF 35:47 MIN | 1-4 FG | 2-2 FT | 10 REB | 2 AST | 4 PTS | -2

10 rebounds, but Kawhi rarely shot the ball. He was waiting in the corner, but with Parker and Manu driving and finishing or drawing a foul, Leonard’s numbers dropped. Grade: B-

Gary Neal, PG 15:06 MIN | 0-6 FG | 2-2 FT | 1 REB | 0 AST | 2 PTS | -17

Inexcusable. Neal took some horrible shots, and made life easy for the Thunder guards. Grade: D

Tony Parker, PG 40:53 MIN | 5-14 FG | 10-12 FT | 4 REB | 4 AST | 20 PTS | -1

Parker lived at the line tonight. He continually drew the fouls attacking the basket, and that’s what I like seeing. However, if he gets a few more to fall in and the and-one, the Spurs win this ball game. Grade: A-

Tiago Splitter, C 10:14 MIN | 2-2 FG | 1-2 FT | 2 REB | 0 AST | 5 PTS | -12

In the second unit, Splitter was nothing to write home about. He did have one nice cut to the basket, but the Thunder have the pick-and-roll covered well. Nothing you can do about it. Grade: C

Conclusion. Spurs don’t turn the ball over 21 times, make a few more shots here and there, and this is a totally different result. However, they did not lie down, and fought for their lives. Not sure how much is left in the tank, though, after this back-and-forth affair.