Aldridge, Leonard lead Spurs to 97-90 win over Grizzlies

San Antonio had lost first two meetings between teams

(AP Photo/Darren Abate)

SAN ANTONIO – On a night the San Antonio Spurs honored the men in woman in uniform serving our country and those who have served with Military Appreciation Night, they were able to thank them with a big win over the Memphis Grizzlies 97-90.

It was the Spurs first win over the Grizzlies after losing the first two matchups of the season.

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It was the type of battle they fought in the first two contests. After just a minute and ten seconds into the game and a three by Vince Carter to put the Grizzlies up 3-2, Gregg Popovich called a time out.

After the time out Danny Green hit a little jumper to give the Spurs the lead and they never trailed again.

The Spurs actually got the lead to 15 in the second quarter, LaMarcus Aldridge with nine in the first half and the Spurs were up at the half 51-42.

Aldridge finished with 23, including a three pointer. In the five games he has played since coming back from minor heart arrhythmia, he is averaging 21.4 points a game.  

"He has played big games the last two especially," said Manu Ginobili. Aldridge is coming of a 26 point game against Sacramento.  

"He's gone out there with a clear head playing with instincts and when he plays like that he is an unbelievable player to stop," said Patty Mills.

Thanks to their tough defense, the Grizzlies chewed away at the Spurs lead and actually tied the game in the fourth at 74, but San Antonio regained the lead for good.

Once again Tony Allen stuck to Kawhi Leonard like glue through most of the night. Leonard was also attracting double teams a lot of the time, something he was just trying to deal with on his way to 19 points.

"The last few games its been double teams, nobody will even let me play one on one anymore, hard to come off the pick and roll without seeing two bodies on me," said Leonard.

He was taking it in stride and looking at the positive side of it.

"It's good for my team, myself that we are seeing this early instead of being hit in the playoffs," Leonard said.

One of the things he is trying to focus on is getting his teammates involved when those double teams come, like the one he was hit with in the paint, he tossed it out to Tony Parker who knocked down a three to put the Spurs up 8 with 26 seconds left to seal the victory.

"Trust my teammates passing the ball," Leonard said.

The Grizzlies defense was not just tough on Leonard, they all just play a tough brand of basketball.

"They play 48 minutes with intensity grabbing holding is their philosophy, when you play like that the whole time refs get used to it so the game becomes like that and we are not used to that," said Manu Ginobilli.

 

They are starting to get used to it since they have played them twice in a week, will play them one more time in April and then may face them in the first round of the playoffs.

"Good thing is that we are learning from them, were going to play them three times in the last month and that may end up being an advantage for somebody, hopefully for us," Ginobili said.


About the Author:

David Sears, a native San Antonian, has been at KSAT for more than 20 years.