MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points and LaMarcus Aldridge posted a double-double as the San Antonio Spurs cruised to a 116-95 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies Sunday afternoon at FedExForum to sweep their best-of-seven first-round playoff series.
Leonard added seven rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal to his day’s work while Aldridge finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Point guard Tony Parker chipped in 16 points.
Grizzlies guard Lance Stephenson led all scorers with his playoff career-best 26 points.
San Antonio went 8-0 against Memphis this season overall and Sunday’s victory marked the Spurs’ 10th sweep of a postseason series in franchise history.
The Grizzlies were beset by injuries this season, including those to center Marc Gasol and point guard Mike Conley. They used an NBA-record 28 players. When including the end of the regular season, they lost 14 of their last 15 games. They finished the regular season with a 42-40 record and made the playoffs for a sixth straight time.
Blown out by the Spurs in the first two games in San Antonio, the Grizzlies carried a one-point lead into the fourth quarter of Game 3 and lost by nine points. On Sunday in Game 4, the Spurs only led by two points at halftime. But they dominated the third quarter 37-21 and were up 84-66 going into the fourth and led by as many as 25 points in the final frame.
San Antonio shot 50 percent from the floor and made 10 of 22 from 3-point range for 45.5 percent. Memphis shot 44.9 percent from the field and hit 5 of 13 from distance for 38.5 percent.
The Spurs won points in the paint 50-38 and rebounds 41-36. The Spurs scored 18 points off 17 Memphis turnovers.
Three Grizzlies starters scored in double figures: Zach Randolph (15 points), Matt Barnes (15) and Vince Carter (14).
The Spurs led 47-45 at halftime and Leonard and Stephenson each had 14 points. With 10:02 left in the second quarter, FedExForum experienced a power surge and lights over the court went out. The game was delayed for 19 minutes.
NOTES: Grizzlies PG Mike Conley won his second NBA Sportsmanship Award in three years. Conley has not played since March 6 because of a sore left Achilles. “An unbelievable honor,” Conley said after being presented with the Joe Dumars Trophy before Sunday’s game. … Game 4 had a noon local time tip-off to accommodate national television. “The start time’s gonna catch somebody,” Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger said before the game. “Hopefully, it’s them.” … Spurs F Kawhi Leonard had 32 points, seven rebounds, two assists, four steals and five blocks in playing 42 minutes in the 96-87 victory in Game 3. Leonard is just the fourth player to have at least 30 points and five blocks in a playoff game without making a turnover since the NBA started tracking turnovers in 1977-78. … San Antonio has never lost a best-of-seven playoff series when leading 3-0, with a 14-0 series record all-time afer Sunday’s win.