Transformation: Thunder beats the Spurs at their own game

Tim Duncan, 40 years old and not looking a day over 39, took a bounce pass from Kawhi Leonard, found open range, dribbled once and went up for a dunk. The Thunder had dominated this Game 6, but the Spurs being the Spurs, they refused to die.

San Antonio had crawled back within 11 points, and with 3:12 left, there was a little life left in the NBA's regal ancients. A Duncan dunk would have made things hairy for a team that only this week had shed its shaky fourth-quarter reputation.

Then Serge Ibaka, who at 26 constitutes an old guy for the Thunder, darted away from covering LaMarcus Aldridge, rose up and blocked what could be the final shot of Duncan's glorious career. Duncan tumbled to the…