NBA Playoffs 2013: Spurs Gallop To 120-89 Win Over Lakers; Take 3-0 Lead in Series [Highlights]
Tim Duncan chalked up 26 points and 9 rebounds and Tony Parker delivered 20 points and 7 dimes as the San Antonio Spurs cruised to a 3-0 series advantage with a masterful 120-89 win over the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 3 of their Western Conference first-round series at Staples Center on Sunday.
The Spurs are one win away to thrashing the beat-up Lakers, who have been decapitated by myriad injuries to their key players.
With Kobe Bryant out with a torn ACL tendon, the Lakers suffered another blow prior to Game 3 when Steve Blake was ruled out due to a strained hamstring. Jodie Meeks (ankle) and Steve Nash (hip) also sat out Friday's ball game due to injuries.
Second-year guards Darius Morris and Andrew Goudeluck assumed the starting jobs for the Lakers and performed solidly in their first postseason starts.
Morris finished with 24 points and six dimes while D-League MVP Andrew Goudeluck had 20 points. Dwight Howard tallied a double-double with 25 points and 11 points while Pau Gasol chipped in with another triple-double performance (11 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 points).
However, despite the individual accomplishment from their starters, the Lakers had no answer to slow down the Spurs' high-octane offense.
With Parker running the show, San Antonio simply ripped the Lakers' defense apart and drove to the baskets almost at will.
The Spurs shot a staggering 61.2 percent from the field and corralled 49 rebounds. They also converted 11 of their 15 shots from the free-throw line.
Meanwhile, the Lakers' run-and-gun offense saw some flashes of nice plays (43.2 percent from the field), but their defense remains the biggest problem for the ball club. Furthermore, their bench only contributed nine points with Earl Clark (4 points) and Antawn Jamison (5 points) scoring for the reserves.
The Spurs have a chance to finish off the Lakers in four games on Sunday at Staples Center.
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