Spurs sweeps Grizzlies 93-86, back to NBA finals

San Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan (R) fights for the ball with Memphis Grizzlies' Zach Randolph during the first quarter in Game 4 of their NBA Western Conference final playoff basketball series in Memphis, Tennessee, May 27, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said making the finals was a testament to the longevity of the team's core: Duncan, Parker and Ginobili.

"You don't expect that to happen maybe this late in the game with the same group," Popovich said. "It's tough to maintain something that long. It just shows the character of those three guys and the ability to play with whoever else is brought in around them. They deserve a lot of credit for that."

The Spurs shot 51.3 percent (39 of 76) from the floor and outscored Memphis 52-32 in the paint, even though the Grizzlies had a 41-34 edge on the boards. Memphis led only briefly as the Spurs took control early.

Memphis stayed close only by getting to the free throw line, making more shots there (17 of 24) than San Antonio took (12 of 13). The Grizzlies also got a career-high 22 points from reserve Quincy Pondexter, 18 of those in the second half. Pondexter was the only player from Memphis to shoot over .500. Zach Randolph finished with 13, continuing his struggles at the line where he was 5 of 8, and Marc Gasol had 14.

"We learned that winning isn't easy and winning championships is one of the hardest things you can possibly do," Pondexter said. "Our guys really dug deep to get as far as we did, and San Antonio's a tremendous team. We're going to take a couple pages out of their book."

Duncan had taken care of the Grizzlies in overtime in each of the previous two games but it was Parker who took over this time.

He hit 14 of his first 18 shots, and the biggest with 9:15 left when he knocked down his lone 3-pointer to stifle a Memphis rally that had seen the hosts get within three points.

The Grizzlies made one last run and got within three one last time when Gasol scored on a runner in the lane with 48.7 seconds left. But Parker hit four free throws in the final 29.7 seconds to seal the victory.

San Antonio Spurs' Tony Parker celebrates after the Spurs eliminated the Memphis Grizzlies to win the NBA Western Conference final playoff basketball series in Memphis, Tennessee, May 27, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]