The Morning Tip-Off

By Michael Rehome
facebooktwitterreddit

April 26, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard (12), small forward Metta World Peace (15), center Robert Sacre (50), small forward Earl Clark (6), point guard Steve Nash (10) and point guard Steve Blake (5) watch game action from the bench against the San Antonio Spurs during the second half in game three of the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Spurs On The Verge Of Sweeping Lakers After Dominant Performance Duncan In Game 3 – Paul Garica, Project Spurs

“(I’m) feeling healthy. (I’m) feeling good.”

That was San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan after posting a dominant 26 points, nine rebounds, and block in his teams rout of the Los Angeles Lakers in Staple Center 120-89, to take a commanding 3-0 series lead.

Spurs Pummel Lakers 120-89 J. Gomez, Pounding the Rock

No one will weep for the Lakers and no one should; they are one of the most successful franchises in all of sports and will very likely re-sign arguably the best center in basketball to a new contract that will lock him up through his prime. But this season, karma has struck the Lakers with a vengeance after so many years of good fortune.

Spurs Take Care Of Business In L.A. – Jeff McDonald, Spurs Nation

The Spurs’ game plan for Game 3 against the snakebitten Los Angeles Lakers was a simple one. It began with making it through the pregame scouting report with a straight face.

Once the Spurs had managed that, the Lakers didn’t stand a chance.

Playing up to the moment instead of down to the competition, the Spurs pounded the team formerly known as the Lakers 120-89 on Friday night, moving within one victory of a first-round sweep.

Spurs Hand Lakers Historic BeatdownGarrett Jochnau, Bleacher Report

On a masterful 12-of-16 shooting, Duncan executed his shots beautifully, scoring 26 points and performing in a manner in which no 37-year-old should be able to.

Duncan certainly set the pace, but he was not alone in his dominating execution. Tony Parker added 20 points and seven assists on the night, as the Spurs moved within one game of a first-round sweep.

Spurs Handle Lakers With Ease – SI.Com

After 16 seasons, Tim Duncan knows the NBA postseason is no time for mercy. Particularly when an opponent is down and seemingly ready to go out.  In the opening minutes of Game 3, Duncan made three consecutive baskets and blocked Dwight Howard’s shot, dominating with his usual ruthless grace.

He put the San Antonio Spurs ahead to stay, and they ended up handing the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers their biggest home playoff loss in franchise history.

facebooktwitterreddit