Spurs sweep Clippers, move into West finals

Mon, 21 May 2012 09:33:32 GMT

The San Antonio Spurs are on to the Western Conference finals, along with their 18-game winning streak and 8-0 mark in the playoffs.

They rallied in the closing minutes behind Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 102-99 on Sunday night and wrap up the second-round series 4-0.

"We needed a game like that. It arrived at the perfect time," Parker said. "We battled. We executed our plays, made big baskets."

Now they wait to find out their next opponent. Oklahoma City took a 3-1 series lead into Game 5 against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night.

"All these teams know each other pretty well, so I don't think there will be a huge surprise for anybody no matter who we play," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.

Duncan scored 21 points, Parker added 17, Danny Green and Gary Neal had 14 each, and Ginobili and Thiago Splitter had 11 each as the Spurs overcame a six-point deficit in the fourth quarter after leading by 12 earlier in the game.

Their playoff winning streak is tied for third-best in franchise history. Not that either streak is a topic among the team.

"It doesn't exist for us," Popovich said. "We don't talk about it. It is not even a thought in our minds."

The Spurs' experience and guile was foremost in withstanding the Clippers' second-half pressure. San Antonio trailed much of the fourth until tying the game twice in the final 3:32. The 30-something trio of Duncan, Parker and Ginobili combined to score nine of the team's final 10 points.

"Their experience showed with their execution," Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro. "Tim looks great and the rest of the guys are feeding off that."

Chris Paul had 23 points and 11 assists, Blake Griffin added 21 points, and Eric Bledsoe had 17 for the Clippers.

Paul faltered in the final two minutes, usually a time when the All-Star guard is at his best.

Both nursing injuries, Griffin and Paul combined to score 21 of the Clippers' 28 points in the third quarter when they took their first lead of the game. In the fourth, Bledsoe came up big, scoring 11 in a row, to extend the lead to 90-85 with 5:38 remaining.

After Reggie Evans missed two free throws, Green hit a 3-pointer to tie it at 92.

Duncan's hook put the Spurs in front 96-94 before Paul tossed up a one-handed shot that rose to the top of the backboard before dropping straight in as he crashed into a baseline photographer. He made the free throw to put the Clippers ahead by one.

Parker scored consecutive baskets and the Spurs regained the lead, 100-97, with 1:47 left.

Paul's two free throws drew the Clippers within one. After a timeout, Paul drove the basket and lost the ball. He fouled Green, who made the first and missed the second to keep the Spurs ahead for good.

"I messed up, bad decisions," Paul said, holding his 2-year-old son on his lap. "I should have shot it and I missed the shot, all on me."

Paul then missed another shot, and Mo Williams fouled Parker, who missed the first and made the second with a second left.

"To let my team down in that situation is probably the toughest part of the season," Paul said. "We scrapped, we played hard. At the end of the day, playing hard isn't always enough. You got to execute. On that last play, at least we could have gotten a shot off and I turned the ball over."

DeAndre Jordan added 10 points. Paul had best performance of the series after sub-par efforts in the first two games. He'd been playing with a strained right hip, while Griffin had a sprained right knee, an injured left hip and got stitches for a cut lip in the first half.

Neither team led by more than five points in the third period. Duncan had 10 points for the Spurs. Bledsoe's putback slam dunk gave the Clippers 75-74 lead going into the fourth.

The Spurs stretched their lead to 12 points with Duncan sitting out the opening 7 minutes of the second quarter.

The Clippers closed on a 14-6 run to trail 51-47 at halftime. Paul got it started with a 19-foot jumper and ended it with a 3-pointer. Early in the spurt, Griffin ran into Ginobili's shoulder, fell and one of his top teeth went through his lip. He left the court with 2:20 remaining to get two stitches on the inside and outside of his lip.

NOTES: Duncan, Parker and Ginobili played in their 130th postseason game together, the most as an active trio in the league. ... Duncan finished with nine rebounds, just short of his 135th career playoff double-double. ... The Clippers have lost all seven of their playoff series after losing Game 1. ... The Spurs had a 40-36 edge on the boards, while the Clippers outscored them in the paint, 56-50.

Argument between brothers leads to fatal shooting

Mon, 21 May 2012 08:18:45 GMT

A fight between two brothers turned fatal early Sunday morning after a roommate intervened and fired a shot at one of the brothers, police said.

It happened in the 1700 block of Center Street.

"It's just very hard for us," said Jeffrey West. "I've been crying all day."

West said the last time he saw his older brother, Christopher West, 25, they were fighting.

West said his brother picked up a knife during the argument, but put it down. He added his brother would never hurt him.

He also said that's when their roommate intervened and fired a shot at Christopher, killing him.

"He didn't have to pull that trigger," said West. "We were unaware that there was a gun in the house. He should have taken other action."

"It's been very hard on the family," said Manuel Trevino, West's uncle. "I don't think it should have happened."

Trevino said the family was shocked to hear about his nephew's death and that Christopher had just turned his life around.

"He was trying to get back with God," said Christopher Manado, West's cousin. "He was trying to have faith again. He was trying to become a better person."

Family members are upset that the roommate who fired the fatal shot wasn't arrested.

"We just want this investigation not to stop," said Lloyd Fernandez, West's uncle. "Because he was killed in cold blood and we do expect the full extent of punishment."

Police took the roommate in for questioning but released him a short time later.

As of Sunday night, no charges were filed, but police said the case is still under investigation.

Gas wars push down prices

Mon, 21 May 2012 07:36:17 GMT

Competing convenience stores are fighting for customers, and that's just fine with them.

Austin Highway might be the latest part of San Antonio where convenience stores are battling it out gas war style. Prices on Sunday at the Valero and H-E-B stores were between $3.25 and $3.27 a gallon.

"Oh, absolutely, we're going to take advantage of it," said Mark Fassold.

He and others line up at the Valero station to pump gas, even when they're not on empty.

"My car is my life," said one woman. "I drive all day long."

When prices everywhere else are climbing higher and when the pump never seems to stop, David Jurenovich thinks about how much it must hurt some people struggling to make ends meet.

"Truth of the matter is, it's still kind of a bite for some of us who can remember the days where you could go out with $10, fill up your tank, and still have money to go to the movies," he said.

People have been getting used to higher gas prices for a while. But when people are driving more miles to accommodate their busy lifestyles, lower prices at the pump seem to be a huge relief.

"It makes a big difference," said Fassold.

From time to time, convenience stores will come to the rescue for everyone feeling the pinch at the pump. After all, the commodity is a must have that most people think should come down permanently.

Price check on cleaning products reveals differences

Mon, 21 May 2012 07:51:37 GMT

All those products consumers buy to get rid of the dust and dirt, grit and grime, smudges and scum can also clean out the wallet.

A price check of 19 name brand products found at Walmart, Target, H-E-B and Family Dollar found tight competition among the first three.

The dollar store was the priciest on the majority of the products checked, including Clorox Bleach, Pine Sol, Liquid Plumber and Lemon Pledge.

"Wow, I would not have thought that at all," said shopper Patsy Gutierrez who likes to buy name brand products.

For example, a 56-oz. bottle of Fabuloso was $3 at Family Dollar, but Target's price was $2.49.

A 100-oz. jug of Gain laundry detergent was $11 at Family Dollar, but a dollar cheaper at the other three big stores.

While the brand names are the same, the sizes of the packaging are not.

Comet at H-E-B and Walmart was 93-cents. Family Dollar's price was just 80-cents.

However, the more expensive one was a much better deal because the quantity was about 30 percent more.

A spray bottle of Lysol All-Purpose cleaner was $2.25 for 22 ounces at Family Dollar, while a bigger, 32-oz bottle cost less, $1.97 at the other three stores.

From the front they appeared to be the same size, but when the products are turned sideways, the difference is clearly visible.

Value packs can be bargains, like the 2-pack of Clorox Foamer at Family Dollar. It was the best deal compared to the other stores.

However, the 2-pack of Dawn Ultra Concentrated Dish Liquid at Target was not the best deal.

The key is to check the price per unit, not just the price of the product.

Totals of the 19 products shows Target the cheapest in a squeaker.

Target's total was $68.60, although HEB was only 28 cents more and Walmart 15 cents more than H-E-B.

Family dollar's price for the equivalent amounts of the same products was $75.62, about $7 more.

Fire guts Bandera restaurant

Mon, 21 May 2012 01:03:02 GMT

An overnight fire gutted a restaurant on Main Street in Bandera.

Debbie Nugent is just one of many Bandera residents who has fond memories of Mesquite Grill Steak House that once bustled with business at 703 Main Street.

"We went a lot to the little restaurant that they had. They had the biggest margaritas you've ever seen," Nugent said.

She said Old Texas Square Hotel, which was next door, was well known for its unique rooms.

"The motel rooms were really individual. There was a John Wayne room, a western room. It was so cool," Nugent said.

While both have been shut down for some time, everyone expected the businesses to reopen.

"Someone had purchased the property and was deciding what to do with it," Mayor Pro Tem Maggie Schumacher said.

There was no electricity or gas on at the building at the time of the fire.

Fire officials are investigating whether the fire was intentionally set.

The damage is extensive but no one was hurt.

Schumacher said they would put fencing up on Monday and begin the process of preparing the building for demolition.

Police arrest woman for rental car theft

Sun, 20 May 2012 19:59:15 GMT

A routine license plate check led to a woman's arrest for rental car theft, an outstanding warrant, and for busting out the window of the police car officers had placed her in.

An officer ran the check on the car in the 1700 block of Jackson-Keller about 11 p.m. Saturday.

Police say that check showed the woman's car was stolen from an Enterprise car rent lot.

Police say she had rented the car and never returned it, even though Enterprise had sent her a letter saying they wanted that car back.

A police check also showed the woman had an outstanding warrant for theft of checks.

Officers say when they arrested the woman and placed her in a squad car she broke out a window.

She'll face criminal mischief charges for that busted window.

She also faces car theft charges and that check theft warrant.

2 teens lead police on wild NW side chase

Sun, 20 May 2012 20:01:23 GMT

Two teens are facing charges after leading police on a wild chase on the Northwest side of town.

Police say a patrol sergeant saw two people in a Cadillac Escalade acting suspicious.

The pair in that SUV then took off, leading police on a miles-long chase.

Police say the pursuit started at I-10 and Camp Bullis Rd, then went toward La Cantera, continued on Babcock Rd. to Loop 1604 and then onto UTSA Blvd.

The chase finally ended on Vance Jackson Rd. just south of 1604.

That's when police say the two people jumped out of the vehicle and ran into an empty field.

Police began searching, and with the help of their chopper Eagle found the men hiding under a tree.

They say the person who was driving that SUV is just 16 years old.

He will face charges of evading arrest with a motor vehicle.

The passenger of the car is 17 years old.

He'll be charged with evading arrest on foot.

Police blame speed for NW side rollover

Sun, 20 May 2012 20:00:03 GMT

A speeding man lost control of his car and came to a wild and crashing halt.

The wreck happened about 3 a.m. Sunday.

Police say the man was speeding westbound in the 8500 block of Wickersham when he lost control and went off the road.

They say he went onto a grassy area and nailed a sand mound, went airborne and uprooted a tree.

The car landed upside down.

They say the 28 year-old driver had only minor injuries.

EMS took him to University Hospital.

Converse man accused of murdering wife

Sun, 20 May 2012 02:58:38 GMT

A Converse man was in jail late Saturday, accused of murdering his wife after he told police she committed suicide.

According to an arrest affidavit, Robert Joiner asked a neighbor to call 911.

When emergency crews got to his house on the 100 block of Meadow Drive in Converse. they found his wife, Elizabeth Joiner, lying on the kitchen floor in a pool of her own blood.

Converse police said Joiner, 43, had initially told them that his wife committed suicide.

However, as police continued to investigate the case, they said Joiner's statement didn't match the evidence and when they called him in for questioning, he confessed to shooting his wife in the back of the head 13 minutes into the interview.

Robert was arrested on Friday and as of Saturday, he remained in the Bexar County Jail on a $250,000 bond.

Saturday, neighbors said they were shocked to hear about what happened.

"Now is the first I've heard of it, so, obviously, it's shocking to me," said Rick Venske, who has lived in the neighborhood for nearly 40 years. "I have never experienced anything like that in this neighborhood."

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