A Fiery Duncan Cannot Rescue the Spurs

OKLAHOMA CITY - As the San Antonio Spurs have won admirers and championships over the years, one of their defining characteristics has been the monochromatic mien of Tim Duncan.

His emotions are not on his sleeve. They are kept securely under his skin.

But that has not been the case lately.

Duncan was clearly irked Sunday night at the criticism that Coach Gregg Popovich leveled at his team, and his demeanor did not improve Tuesday when the Spurs lost to Oklahoma City, 105-92, squaring the Western Conference finals at two games apiece.

Duncan became entangled with Thunder center Kendrick Perkins, with the two then separated by an official, and was gesticulating with Popovich when they met during a timeout. For Duncan, these constitute outbursts.

The rare shows of emotion indicate just how meaningful these defeats have been to the Spurs. Duncan memorably slapped his palms on the court last June in Miami, after missing a short shot that all but sealed a Game 7 loss in the N.B.A. Finals.

The defeats here have rekindled memories of another crushing defeat, in 2012, when the red-hot Spurs took a 2-0 lead in the conference finals over Oklahoma City with their 20th consecutive victory dating to the regular season. But they did not win again, the Thunder ripping off four consecutive victories.

Before he left the court in San Antonio last Wednesday, after their convincing wins, he said that if any of his teammates did not remember what had happened two years ago, he would be sure to remind them.

After the unexpected return of Serge Ibaka inspired the Thunder to a victory on Sunday, there were more unpleasant reminders for San Antonio on Tuesday.

Russell Westbrook was a chest-thumping, trash-talking tone setter for the Thunder, looking for his shot wherever he might find it, on forays to the rim or quick-trigger 3-pointers, but not at the exclusion of his teammates. He scored 40 points, making all 14 of his free throws, and collected 10 assists.

But he also affected the game defensively in the first half, poking balls away from Tony Parker and Danny Green that allowed the Thunder to crank up the pace and take charge after being in an early hole. The Thunder finished with 21 fast-break points, the Spurs none.

Westbrook seemed to take to heart how important the Thunder thought it was to play with an edge.

'There's no reason to be happy,' Perkins said. 'The happy team always loses.'

Kevin Durant supplied the offensive kick in the first half with 22 of his 31 points, and his back-to-back 3-pointers late in the half spiked Oklahoma City's lead to 14.

The Spurs found some life late in the third quarter when Popovich plumbed the depths of his bench. Cory Joseph, Marco Belinelli, Boris Diaw, Matt Bonner and Aron Baynes looked like a white flag. Instead, they sliced a 27-point deficit to 12 early in the fourth.

Popovich, who drew a technical foul during the Thunder's second-quarter run, never returned his starters, but the reserves could never tighten the gap further than 12 points in the final minutes.

Popovich was disappointed his team did not play with a foot-on-the-throat attitude Sunday night, when the Thunder got back into the series.

Parker, who played particularly poorly, made good on his pledge to be more decisive. He began the night by kicking passes out to Kawhi Leonard, who sank a pair of 3-pointers that bookended Parker's drive to the basket. The Spurs led, 8-0.

Then Reggie Jackson, who had given a jolt to the offense when he was inserted into the starting lineup in Game 3, twisted his ankle and headed to the locker room.

But Jeremy Lamb, a little-used reserve with a predilection for poor defense, entered, and his long limbs created a nuisance in the Spurs' passing lane. He was far from the only member of the Thunder's supporting cast to contribute.

Perkins scored but a single basket, but he was a physical force. He blocked two shots and collected 10 rebounds, and he made an impact with his defense on Duncan, leaning on him in the low post and contesting his touches at the high post.

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