If this was Tim Duncan’s final game, consider it an official changing of the guard.
The Oklahoma City Thunder blew out Duncan’s San Antonio Spurs were blown out for most of Game 6 of their second-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, ultimately losing by a 113-99 final. With the victory, OKC becomes just the fourth team in NBA history to win a playoff series after losing Game 1 by more than 30 points.
Duncan was excellent in the elimination game, scoring 19 points and adding five rebounds and a block in 34 minutes of action. The 40-year-old owned a plus/minus of plus-13. The other four Spurs starters were a combined minus-27.
Despite Duncan’s best efforts, things just didn’t go the Spurs way at any point Thursday night.
Thunder star Kevin Durant scored a game-high 37 points, adding nine rebounds and two assists. Durant and Duncan embraced following the game, possibly for the last time as opponents on the floor.
Rumors of Duncan’s retirement have run rampant for several years, and recent reports suggest the Spurs could make a hard push for Durant’s services as a free agent this offseason.
Duncan was non-committal about his potential retirement in a postgame news conference, according to ESPN.
“We’ll get to that after I get out of here,” he said.
The Thunder advance to the Western Conference finals where two-time defending MVP Stephen Curry and the reigning NBA champion Golden State Warriors await.
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@Steve_OS
