2012 NBA Playoffs

San Antonio, TX

Kevin Durant scored 27 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder held off the San Antonio Spurs to take control of the Western Conference Finals with a 108-103 victory in Game 5.

Russell Westbrook added 23 points for the Thunder, who have won three straight in the series to take a 3-2 lead with Game 6 set for Wednesday night in Oklahoma City.

Harden scored 12 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, including a huge 3-pointer with 28.8 seconds left. Harden's step-back three made it 106-101 with 28.8 seconds left.

The Spurs rallied as Manu Ginobili scored on a layup and the Spurs forced a turnover to regain possession with 15.5 seconds to go. Ginobili missed a deep three and Durant made a pair of free throws to ice the game.

Ginobili, making his first start of the playoffs, scored a season-high 34 points for San Antonio, which has lost three consecutive games for the first time this season.

Tony Parker scored 20 points and Tim Duncan had 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Spurs, who had won their first 10 playoff games.

Durant and Westbrook combined to score 17 points as the Thunder closed the third quarter on a 20-5 run to take an 81-72 lead into the fourth.

A four-point play by Harden gave the Thunder a 101-88 with 5:17 to play, but Stephen Jackson buried a 3-pointer and Duncan scored six straight points in a 10-0 spurt to bring the Spurs within 101-99 with 1:54 to go.

 

Lakers pick up option on center Andrew Bynum

The Los Angeles Lakers picked up the $16.1 million option on Andrew Bynum's contract for the 2012-2013 season.

The move was no surprise and covers the final year of Bynum's current contract, which he signed in 2008.

Lakers brass said after the season they would exercise the option so Bynum would remain with the team for at least one more season. The team had until June 30 to exercise their option.

The 24-year-old Bynum played 60 games this season and averaged career-highs in points (18.7) and rebounds (11.8). He was a starter in the All-Star Game, and was named to the All-NBA second team after the season.

 

 

Thunder Push Spurs to Brink with Game 5 Road Win