Playing at home and with their best low-post defender back in action, the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs, 106-97, Sunday night in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals.
The Thunder trail 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. Game 4 will be played Tuesday night in Oklahoma City.
"I'm very disappointed that we didn't come out with more of a foot-on-the-neck attitude," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "They killed us on the boards and beat us to 50-50 balls. That's very disappointing to me."
After getting thoroughly outplayed in the first two games on the road, the Thunder picked up their energy on defense to keep the game close in the first quarter. And leading the defensive charge was Serge Ibaka.
The shot-blocking power forward made his presence felt immediately. After sitting out Games 1 and 2 with a calf injury, Ibaka opened the scoring with a 19-foot jumper.
But he was just getting started. Ibaka would finish with 15 points on 6-of-7 field goals, seven rebounds and four blocks. He also altered several shot attempts.
"I did pretty well. But it was just me, but my teammates as well," Ibaka said. "I just need to help my teammates and keep doing the best I can to be everywhere I can."
Russell Westbrook led the Thunder with 26 points; Kevin Durant added 25 points and 10 rebounds.
Manu Ginobili came off the bench to pace the Spurs with 23 points. Tim Duncan had 16 points and eight rebounds.
"Serge is always great in the paint. He blocks shots and changes shots," Popovich said.
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