Both sides played well in a back-and-forth first half that saw the Cavaliers take a 47-44 lead into the break, but the Spurs responded in the second half and took the lead going into the fourth quarter.
San Antonio maintained a small lead throughout the final period, yet the Cavs found themselves down by two with a chance to win the game at the end. Off of a missed free throw, LeBron James turned the ball over while trying to bring the ball up the court for the potential game-winning attempt, preserving the victory for the Spurs.
Turning Point:
San Antonio really took control of the game in the third quarter, where they took a three-point deficit and turned it into a lead thanks to a 7-0 run to close the period. That was enough to put them in control for the rest of the game, which is why they were able to get a win.
Key Stat:
The Cavs only attempted 13 free throws in this game compared for 25 for the Spurs. San Antonio was more aggressive throughout the game, and were able to get key points at the foul line.
Cleveland MVP:
Anderson Varejao had a monster game on both ends of the floor tonight, contributing 23 points and 13 rebounds while holding Tim Duncan to just 7-17 shooting.
San Antonio MVP:
Boris Diaw was the Spurs' wild card once again tonight, scoring 19 points along with seven assists and six rebounds. Duncan also had a triple-double with 19 points and 10 boards.
What Did We Learn?
Cleveland showed tonight that they can play good defense when they want to. They played with a level of intensity on that end of the court that we haven't seen from them all season - likely due to the fact that they were playing the defending NBA champs. If they can bring a little more of that intensity every night, their defensive issues won't become as prominent.
As for San Antonio, this is par for the course. This team plays so consistently during the regular season before stepping their game up in the playoffs, and tonight was no different. They moved the ball on offense and played hard on defense, but head coach Gregg Popovich stuck to his minutes restrictions for Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili.
What’s Next?
Cleveland hits the road to face the Washington Wizards on Friday night, while San Antonio will play the Timberwolves in Minnesota that same day.
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