OKLAHOMA CITY – The Western Conference semifinals between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder is now getting interesting.
The Spurs could not hold onto a fourth quarter lead while the Thunder actually closed out a game, beating the Spurs 111-97 to tie the series at two games a piece headed back to San Antonio for Game 5.
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The Spurs couldn't contain Kevin Durant who exploded in the fourth quarter.
Durant outscored the Spurs by himself with 17 points while San Antonio only managed 16 points as a team.
Durant was also a perfect 6 of 6 from the field in the fourth quarter. He finished with a playoff career-tying 41 points.
"You've got to give him credit, he was great. I don't know what else to say, he was fantastic," Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said.
Durant hit the clutch 3-pointer with 1:30 left to put it away for the Thunder.
"Durant got away from us," said foward Kawhi Leonard. "He knows how to make his shots and to get open."
Another fourth quarter downfall for the Spurs, the Thunder grabbed 15 rebounds compared to the Spurs six.
They also got more physical with San Antonio. "It's the playoffs, everybody is more physical," Leonard said.
"Just some clashes, it's awesome though its good stuff," Thunder center Steven Adams said.
Leonard got tangled up with Enes Kanter and he appeared to hurt his leg. He ended up going 0 for 5 in the fourth quarter and finished with 21 points. After the game he said he was okay.
"It banged me, but I kept pushing through it, wasn't trying to think about it," Leonard said. "I should be good."
LaMarcus Aldridge also struggled in the fourth quarter only scoring one free throw and finishing with 20 points.
"We didn't make shots, they played better than we did down the stretch," Aldridge said.
Not only was Adams getting physical on defense, but he scored 16 points on 6 of 8 shooting.
Oklahoma City's Dion Waiters came off the bench to put in 17 points.
"Those guys making shots, it was a great job they did on the boards out-toughing us and Durant having a good night got them a game," Popovich said.
"We were in control for much of the game, then the fourth quarter we just couldn't get the stops that we needed to win the game." Tony Parker said.
Parker scored 22 and had his second quality performance in a row. "I am just trying to do my best out there and be aggressive," Parker said.
NOTE
Game 4 between the Spurs and Thunder was the first time Tim Duncan hasn't taken a shot attempt in a playoff game in his career.