2014 NBA Playoffs: San Antonio Spurs vs. Dallas Mavericks Game 5 Preview

Apr 28, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks fan holds a sign for forward

(not pictured) prior to the game against the San Antonio Spurs in game four of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

San Antonio Spurs vs. Dallas Mavericks

Game 5 7:00 p.m. ET Wednesday, April 30th

Will the Spurs Win Game 5?

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According to Dan McCarney of Spurs Nation, Tony Parker has a Grade 1 ankle sprain. 

What does that mean, exactly?

Parker is listed as day-to-day, and the Grade 1 diagnosis is the lowest among three classifications. The Spurs were 12-3 without their French point guard throughout the regular season.

Rami Michail, editor of FanSided’s own The Smoking Cuban, explains how Manu Ginobili absolutely killed the Mavericks in Game 4.

19.8 points (48% fg), 4.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game. That’s the damage Ginobili has done to the Mavericks in the four games to this point of this 2-2 series. All increases of his season average of 12.3 points, 3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1 steal. Those 19.8 points are only second in this series to Monta Ellis, who’s averaging 20.3 points. Also, those 19.8 points are more than what Dirk Nowitzki is averaging this series, which is just 16.0 points per game.

Now if you exclude the best of 5 format… #Spurs are 18-9 in the Duncan era in Game 5’s …23-7 all-time (not counting ABA) #NBAPlayoffs

— Jabari Young (@jabari_young) April 29, 2014

Michail also tells us of Dejuan Blair’s one-game suspension for Game 5. Blair was ejected late in the game after sparking a comeback for Dallas and leading the team from a 20-point deficit. He put up 12 points, 11 rebounds and 2 steals in just 16 minutes; it was his best game of the series after averaging just 5.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in 9.3 minutes of action.

Finally, FanSided’s Brad Rowland covers the Donald Silver-is-a-scumbag situation. Adam Silver imposed a lifetime ban on Sterling from attending any NBA or Clippers-related event, be it business or basketball related. He also fined him the maximum $2.5 million the NBA could allow, and that money will be donated to charities focused on spreading racial equality. The NBA Board of Governors will soon meet to vote over stripping Silver of ownership of the franchise. 22 of the 29 owners must agree for him to be forced to release his team, a sale that the NBA will control.