Gay, Ginobili lead Spurs over Kings to clinch playoff berth
SAN ANTONIO — The Spurs seemed like a perfect free-agent destination as Rudy Gay searched for a guaranteed playoff berth after just one post-season appearance in 11 previous seasons.
That assurance was eroded by injuries this season, but Gay made sure two decades of success didn’t come to an end in his first year in San Antonio.
Gay scored 18 points, Manu Ginobili had 17 and the Spurs rallied late to beat the Sacramento Kings 98-85 on Monday night and clinch their 21st straight post-season appearance.
“It feels good, it feels great actually,” Gay said. “This is what the regular season is for, to get to where we are now. This is a good feeling, something that I’m anxious for something I’ve been looking forward to for a long time. It’ll be fun.”
San Antonio is fifth in the Western Conference despite only having star forward Kawhi Leonard available for nine games this season. The Spurs still have a slim chance of finishing fourth and earning home-court advantage in the first round with one game remaining. For now, they are just happy to make the playoffs.
“For moments we felt like the worst team in the NBA,” Ginobili said, “but we still managed to go close to 50 games and make it to the playoffs in a conference that is tough and talented and young and athletic. So, we managed to compete.”
Sacramento, which was eliminated from the post-season on March 11, led by 14 points before being outscored 38-19 in the fourth quarter.
Reserves Gay, Ginobili and Bryn Forbes combined for 25 points in the fourth quarter. Forbes finished with 11 points total.
“It’s tough when Rudy gets going, everything goes in,” said Willie Cauley-Stein, who finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds.
Gay had eight points, five rebounds, an assist and a block in the fourth quarter.
San Antonio outscored Sacramento 50-25 after Gay entered the game with 6:38 remaining in the third quarter.
“The way I was growing up, you learn you never have anything given to you, so you’ve got to go get it on your own,” Gay said.
Forbes’ fast-break layup off a steal by Kyle Anderson gave San Antonio its first advantage at 68-67 with 10:21 remaining. Sacramento went back ahead seconds later when Buddy Hield hit a 3-pointer, and the lead changed three times after that before Ginobili and Gay gave the Spurs’ the edge for good.
Gay and Ginobili had thunderous dunks in the final five minutes that helped San Antonio maintain small leads. Gay also had a 3-point play off a runner he tossed in and ripped the ball from Cauley-Stein while blocking the 7-footers shot.
A 3-pointer by Forbes and a layup by Ginobili 30 seconds later gave the Spurs an 82-77 lead with 5:23 remaining.
“He did an amazing job,” Ginobili said of Forbes. “Not only to make shots it’s easy to see the 3s or the two big shots he got, but he played very solid defence, he was a pest chasing them around. We really changed the game when he was on the court.”
LaMarcus Aldridge added 15 points and 14 rebounds but was 6 for 19 from the field.
De’Aaron Fox added 21 points, and Hield had 17 for the Kings.
http://nationalpost.com/pmn/sports-p...-playoff-berth
Rudy is eloquent...
Manu such a great teammate, acknowledged Forbes contributions in the victory.
ElNono's intention with thread tle flew past over some people head, tbh.
After the LAC game Manu has been amazing. You can tell that LaC game bothered him. Spurs aren’t in the playoffs without Manu which is crazy to say at his age. LEGEND
convenient way to forget a comma
If Rudy gets blood transfusion from Kawhi, he'll be sucking his thumb in a corner for the rest of his life. Good call, Rudy!
Manu so gracious and complementary.
That thread le... only thing that would make it better is changing “Kings” to “Queens”.
Manu has blood type OG.
i think anyone with a kindergarten reading level and above would probably get it. so, basically about half of ST.
Forbes probably deserves honorable mention; butat him being "tired" from playing all those minutes this season.
If Rudy gets some soul fire from Manu then he can be extremely dangerous in the playoffs.
Cry havoc thirsty after reading le
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