Kawhi Leonard scores 37 as Spurs hold off Grizzlies to take 2-0 series lead

SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Spurs got another big game from Danny Green, this time it was on the offensive end, and it helped spark the Spurs to a Game Two win over the Memphis Grizzlies, 96-82. San Antonio now has a 2-0 series lead headed to Memphis.

The Spurs also got a career playoff high from Kawhi Leonard with 37 points.

San Antonio blew out to big 26 point lead in the first half and lead and went into the locker room leading 56-37.

The Grizzlies' Marc Gasol and Mike Conley combined for 38 points in the first half in Game One, but the team only managed 37 in the first half.

The Grizzlies made the big change at halftime that turned the game around for them.

They started Zach Randolph and James Ennis, and that was automatic defense.

Memphis took a 26 point deficit and got it all the way down to four early in the fourth quarter.  

They held San Antonio to just 19 points in the third. The Spurs turned it over 12 times in the second half, 16 for the game. 

"Our offense you know went in the toilet because of their great defense, they got into us," said Gregg Popovich.

"We did play hard the second half," said Randolph. "Obviously we didn't get the win."

Randolph finished the night with 18 points and 10 rebounds but it wasn't enough.

The Spurs went on a 13-4 run to get the lead back to double digits and close out the game.

Green finished with 12 on four of five shooting, all from the point range, but even with a sharp shooting night he admitted his game belongs at the other end of the floor.

"Offense is not a big focus," Green said. "I'm in there to disrupt their offense."

Speaking of offense, Tony Parker finished with 15, his second stellar performance in as many games.

There was one major discrepancy, the Spurs went to the line 32 times and made 31.

Leonard was a perfect 19 for 19, more than the Grizzlies attempted as a team which was only 15.

Memphis head coach David Fizdale made his feelings known about the officiating during the postgame press conference. He criticized the officials for the what he felt were a lack of calls for his team. 

"It was a very poorly officiated basketball game," Fizdale said. "Zach Randolph, the most rugged guy in the game, had zero free throws, but somehow Kawhi Leonard had 19 free throws."

"Honestly I don't understand it," Randolph said.

The Grizzlies do understand they are in a hole and need to get a win Thursday in Memphis if they have any hope against the Spurs. Game Three is Thursday night.