Spurs Outgun Grizzlies 110-97 for Sweep

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Tony Parker matched his career high with 29 points and had a postseason-best 13 assists to help the San Antonio Spurs sweep the Memphis Grizzlies with a 110-97 victory Sunday night.

The Spurs advance to the second round of the playoffs, having won 15 straight regular-season and playoff games. It also was San Antonio’s first series sweep since beating Portland in 1999 en route to its first NBA title.

Tim Duncan celebrated his 28th birthday with 26 points for the Spurs. Robert Horry had 14 off the bench, and Bruce Bowen and Manu Ginobili each added 10.

Pau Gasol led the Grizzlies with 22 points, but had only two rebounds. James Posey added 20 points, and Earl Watson and Jason Williams each had 13.

The Grizzlies desperately wanted the franchise’s first playoff victory as a thank-you for their rowdy fans. And the team that set a record with 50 victories played well enough before a sellout crowd that had fuzz flying through the air as the fans shook their promotional towels most of the game.

Adding to franchise history will have to wait at least until next season when the Grizzlies move into their new $250 million FedExForum near Beale Street because their best just wasn’t good enough against a team looking for a second straight NBA title.

The Spurs, who haven’t lost since March 23, closed out this series with their best shooting game this season.

Memphis had been one of the NBA’s best defensive units during the regular season when it came to forcing steals and blocking shots. But the Spurs shot 58.7 percent from the floor, including 11-of-17 from 3-point range, and it was easy with nearly every attempt coming off a wide-open look at the basket.

Every time the Grizzlies put up a shot, they had a hand in their face or were pushing through Spurs to reach the basket in shooting 46.6 percent.

Memphis started quick enough with a 10-2 run for their biggest lead at 10-4 on a Posey dunk in the opening minutes. But the Spurs hit their first four 3s, and took the lead for good at 14-12 on a 20-foot jumper by Bowen.

Gasol hit a hook shot to pull Memphis within 18-17, then the Spurs answered with 12-2 spurt and led 32-21 at the end of the first quarter.

Memphis got within five a few times in the second, but Duncan scored 10 points in the quarter in helping the Spurs lead by as much as 17.

The Grizzlies made one last run and got within nine twice in the fourth quarter, the last on a 3-pointer by Mike Miller at 92-83 with 7:44 to go. Parker once again answered with a pair of free throws, and the Spurs just pushed that lead back to double digits to put it away.

It was a very tightly officiated game, but one call got the fans chanting, “We want new refs” at the end of the third quarter. Watson was given a foul after a scramble for the ball lost by Parker as he went into the paint on the Spurs’ end.

Notes:@ This was San Antonio’s first sweep in the first-round since 1995 when they downed Denver in three games in what was then a best-of-five series. … The Spurs’ previous best performance was March 31 when they shot 57 percent against Sacramento. … Parker’s previous best for assists had been nine against the Lakers on May 7, 2002. … The Grizzlies at least won the battle on the offensive boards. San Antonio got 21 in Game 3, but Memphis had a 12-6 advantage this time.