Thunder hold on beat Spurs 98-97, even series at 1-1

SAN ANTONIO – Russell Westbrook had 29 points and 10 assists, and the Oklahoma City Thunder held on to beat San Antonio 98-97 on Monday night (Tuesday in Manila), evening the series at one game apiece when the Spurs failed to score on a wild sequence in the final seconds.

 

Kevin Durant added 28 points as the Thunder handed the Spurs just their second home loss of the season, rebounding from a 32-point beating in Game 1.

 

Oklahoma City's Dion Waiters appeared to push Manu Ginobili while inbounding to start the final possession and Danny Green stole the ball from Durant. Patty Mills missed an open 3-pointer, LaMarcus Aldridge lost the ball after grabbing the airball and Kawhi Leonard was unable to gather the ball before the buzzer sounded.

 

Aldridge had 41 points in his second straight dominant performance, but the rest of the Spurs did not provide the same assistance they did in San Antonio's 32-point victory in Game 1.

 

Game 3 is Friday (Saturday in Manila) at Oklahoma City.

 

Aldridge had 13 points in the final quarter, including a pair of three-point plays. The All-Star forward drained his second 3-pointer of the season to pull San Antonio within 96-94 and then made three free throws after being fouled by Serge Ibaka to make it 98-97, setting up the final sequence.