OAKLAND
Calvin de Haan Jersey Kids , Calif. — The San Antonio Spurs hope to take a second
step on what would be an unprecedented journey in the NBA playoffs when they
once again face elimination in Game 5 against the Golden State Warriors on
Tuesday night.
No team has ever won a series in which it trailed 3-0, but the Spurs were able to stay alive at home with a 103-90 win in Game 4 on Sunday.
It was the first time in the Gregg Popovich era that the Spurs have as much as won one game after losing the first three of a series. They were swept in a
similar situation last season by the Warriors in the Western Conference
finals.
For the third game in a row, the Spurs will be coached Tuesday by assistant Ettore Messina, with Popovich having left the team after the death of his wife
Erin last week.
The teams had different views as to what triggered the dramatic turnaround in Game 4. The Spurs had fallen behind at least 19 points in each of the first
three games of the series but never trailed Sunday.
The Spurs cited improved shooting as one big difference. After connecting on a combined 20 of 83 (24 percent) on 3-pointers in the first three games of the
series, San Antonio bombed in 15 of 28 (54 percent) in Game 4.
The result: A team that had been outscored 105-60 from beyond the arc for three games was able to turn the tables to the tune of 45-21 in the elimination
game.
It was a team effort. LaMarcus Aldridge, Pau Gasol, Dejounte Murray and Manu Ginobili, who had combined to make just three 3-pointers in the first three
games, dropped in a total of 10 when it mattered most.
“It was a do-or-die game,” explained Aldridge, a predicament in which the Spurs also will find themselves in Game 5. “Make it happen or go home, and I
think every guy played with that mentality, that focus, and we ended up getting
it done.”
Meanwhile, the Warriors weren’t even getting shots time and again early in the loss. They committed seven turnovers in the game’s first 5 1/2 minutes, fell
behind by as many as 10 points in the first quarter and never caught up.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr didn’t like seeing it live and enjoyed it even less when he got back to Oakland and watched it on tape.
“Lack of focus to start the game was really the key
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purpose. And I take a lot of the blame for that. I should know better as a coach
of a team that’s been up 3-0 plenty times — you gotta know you’re going into the
lion’s den …
“Looking back at the tape, I should have taken a timeout three minutes into the game and broken a clipboard. More than that, I should have had them prepared
pregame for what was coming, and I didn’t feel like I did a good job at
that.”
The Warriors had similar early-game issues at home during the regular season. It helped produce a record as good on the road (29-12) as at home (29-12).
Even with Sunday’s loss, the Warriors have beaten the Spurs in 11 of their last 13 meetings, including both regular-season and playoff games.
If the Warriors win Game 5, they would advance to face the New Orleans Pelicans in the Western Conference semifinals.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Sam Darnold jogged onto the field for his NFL debut and was greeted by butterflies in his stomach and cheers in the
stands.
The anxiety quickly faded. The buzz only got louder.
Darnold sparkled in his NFL debut and made a strong initial case to win the Jets‘ starting quarterback job as he helped lead New York to a 17-0 victory over
the Atlanta Falcons on Friday night.
“I was a little nervous going out there,” Darnold said, “but I think more just excited to finally be able to play in an NFL game, even though it is
preseason.”
Darnold, the No. 3 overall draft pick in April, was the Jets’ third quarterback of the game, following Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater. The former
USC star received a standing ovation as he jogged onto the field at MetLife
Stadium with 8:41 to go in the first half.
“Yeah, it was pretty cool just to get that response from the crowd
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the sideline, I had fans later in the fourth quarter yell, ‘Great game,
Sam!'”
Darnold’s first series ended in a punt and his non-throwing left hand was checked out by trainers on the sideline after it was stepped on. But he was fine
and wore a glove in the second half.
He got the crowd on its feet again just before halftime, throwing a 14-yard touchdown pass to Charles Johnson that gave New York a 17-0 lead.
The 21-year-old Darnold showed the poise of a veteran on the drive while completing six straight passes to get to the Falcons 3. He would’ve had a
seventh consecutive completion, but his throw into the end zone was dropped by
Johnson. Darnold went right back to Johnson on his next pass and the receiver
caught a 4-yard TD toss — but was called for offensive pass interference.
On third-and-14, Darnold again threw to Johnson while rolling to his right and zipping in a pass for the score.
“My first scoring drive of my whole career was a two-minute drive going down the field,” Darnold said. “It was awesome. To get the penalty and be pushed back
and for our whole offense to respond to adversity like that, it was awesome to
see.”
Darnold, who finished 13 of 18 for 96 yards, sat out the first three days of training camp before his representatives and the Jets agreed on a fully
guaranteed four-year, $30.25 million deal that included a $20 million signing
bonus. He quickly made up for the missed time, and is being given every
opportunity to win the starting job.
“I’m not going to jump to any conclusions after one game,” coach Todd Bowles said.
McCown is the incumbent and started the game, but played just one series. The 39-year-old veteran completed his only throw, a 4-yard toss to Neal
Sterling.
TEDDY’S NIGHT
Bridgewater came out with the starting offense for the Jets’ second possession and led New York down the field on a scoring
drive
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zone.
Crowell, in his first game with the Jets after four seasons in Cleveland, was evaluated for a head injury after taking a few hard hits on the play. He didn’t
return.
Bridgewater, who suffered a serious knee injury in practice while with Minnesota nearly two years ago, converted a third-and-11 with an 8-yard pass to
Robby Anderson — while also taking a hard hit bouncing back up. On fourth-and-3
from the Falcons 40, Bridgewater connected with Jermaine Kearse for a 6-yard
gain and a first down to keep the drive alive.
Playing with the backup offensive line on his second series, Bridgewater led New York on another scoring drive capped by Taylor Bertolet’s 45-yard field
goal.
“Overall, it was a great day,” said Bridgewater, who finished 7 of 8 for 85 yards. “It was good to be back out there with the guys, flying around and
scoring touchdowns and winning football games.”
SHORT STINT
Matt Ryan played the first series for the Falcons, and completed his only attempt to rookie Calvin Ridley for a 2-yard loss.
He was replaced by veteran Matt Schaub, who went 9 of 9 for 54 yards while playing the rest of the first half.
SLUGGISH
Atlanta got its initial first down of the game with 10 seconds left in the first half on Schaub’s 10-yard pass to Eric Saubert.
The Falcons, who finished with 11 first downs, were also called for 10 penalties resulting in 71 yards lost.
“I thought penalties in this game cost us,” coach Dan Quinn said. “It created some difficult field positions to
convert
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our game we certainly need to clean up.”
NATIONAL ANTHEM
Players from both teams stood during the anthem, with no demonstrations. The Jets linked arms on the sideline, including owner Christopher Johnson, as they
did last season.
SITTING OUT
Atlanta wide receiver Julio Jones and running back Devonta Freeman did not play, despite being healthy. Kicker Matt Bryant and offensive tackle Ty
Sambrailo had previously been scratched.
Several Jets didn’t play, including rookie tight end Chris Herndon, who Bowles said was banged up in practice and got the night off. Also out because of
injuries were: left tackle Kelvin Beachum, linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin, defensive
tackle Deon Simon, rookie cornerback Parry Nickerson, and running back Eli
McGuire.
STILL NOTHING
Atlanta tried to stop the shutout in the closing seconds, but David Marvin was short on a 42-yard field-goal attempt as time expired.
INJURIES
Sterling left in the third quarter with an ankle injury and didn’t return. … Jets cornerback Buster Skrine left after injuring his shoulder in the first
quarter. … Falcons backup guard Jamil
Dougla
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