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12/23/2024 12:06:10 am

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San Antonio Spurs Looking to Close First Round Playoff Series Against Memphis Grizzlies With a Sweep

Kawhi Leonard

(Photo : gettyimages.com) Kawhi Leonard is expected once again to lead the second-best regular season squad with another high-level game performance in Game 4.

The San Antonio Spurs will be targeting another win against the short-handed Memphis Grizzlies in a bid to close out their first-round playoffs series with a 4-0 sweep. Both teams will face each other on Sunday at the FedExForum.

The Spurs have a commanding 3-0 advantage after beating the Robert Pera-majority owned team in their three previous encounters. Another victory would mean, advancing to the next round of the playoffs and registering the team's ninth postseason series sweep and their third against the Grizzlies.

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The back-to-back NBA Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard, who finished Game three with 32 points including six three-pointers in his nine attempts, is expected once again to lead the second-best regular season squad with another high-level game performance in Game 4.

"He just keeps getting better and better," Memphis head coach Dave Joerger said of the 2014 NBA Finals MVP. "He's been terrific all series, and he's also a bailout player for them ... They can run all their stuff, and it's hard to defend, and he can go get a shot when the shot clock is going down."

The Grizzlies, who had an eight-game overall skid against San Antonio, had only ten players available in their lineup and the team's head tactician is expected to stick with his starters in their upcoming game.

Memphis is playing the series without its two top scorers in Mike Conley and Marc Gasol in a season defined by makeshift starting fives. The team was even forced to play with a smaller lineup in Game 3.

"We all know what the numbers are," said coach Joerger pertaining with the 3-0 deficit, "but don't let it be easy for them. I think you're going to get their best shot early and try to push the lead out, if they can, early. We have to come with the same attitude that we did [in Game 3]."

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