The volatile, and now tied, Western Conference Finals shift to Alamo City for a crucial Game 5 Thursday night between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder.
[b]Cheap Bruins Jerseys[/b] . Watch the game live on TSN and TSN GO at 9pm et/6pm pt. Serge Ibaka returned to the Thunder lineup from a calf injury that was supposed to sideline him for the remainder of the postseason and the results were sparkling. Ibaka helped OKC to victories in Games 3 and 4 and his defense has been a huge reason for the shift in momentum. With Ibaka back in action, the Thunder have held the Spurs to 40 and 36 points in the paint for the two games at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Without Ibaka and the series at AT&T Center, San Antonio exploited his absence to the tune of 66 and 54 points in the paint. But Ibakas return isnt the only factor in OKC tying the series. Kevin Durant, the reigning MVP, has been brilliant, but Russell Westbrook has been amazing. The Thunder won Game 4, 105-92, and the dynamic duo of Oklahoma City was on full display. Westbrook finished with 40 points, 10 assists, five steals and five rebounds, while Durant poured in 31 points on just 22 shots. Westbrook became the first player since Michael Jordan in 1989 to have a postseason game with at least 40 points, 10 assists, five rebounds and five steals. "I just think myself and Kevin, obviously we want to win, and we want to get better," said Westbrook. "Tonight, we came out with a defensive mindset. I thought we did a great job of helping each other out defensively, and that led to us getting out in transition, getting open looks, and it looked easy for both of us." The Thunder shot 50.8 percent from the field over the first three quarters to build a substantial lead, one aided by a staggering 21-0 advantage in fastbreak points. Tony Parker scored 14 points, while the other two-thirds of San Antonios Big 3 -- Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili -- totaled 14 points on 5-of-16 shooting. Kawhi Leonard scored 10 as the San Antonio starters, including Danny Green and Tiago Splitter, combined for 39 points, one shy of Westbrooks total. "Theyre talented obviously, but the athleticism and the length gives you a small margin of error, and youd better be smart the way you play, and you cant afford to screw that up as many times as we did," said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. "And I think we have to play harder." To that end, Pop sat his starters midway through the third quarter, bringing some back in the fourth. Afterward, he indicated that he was resting players for Thursday, but after practice on Wednesday, he said some changes, albeit small ones, might be in order. "Weve considered a couple of tweaks here and there just in the game plan." Popovich said. "I dont know exactly where thatll be, but we saw a few things that we think might warrant a little tweak here and there." The Spurs, who are 8-1 at home this postseason, saw a similar scenario play out two years ago. They beat the Thunder in the first two games, then lost the last four as OKC marched into the NBA Finals. "I dont think about it," said Pop. Maybe Popovich should think about this - the Thunder have won seven straight over the Spurs with a full lineup, including Ibaka. "We know what were playing for," said Durant. "We know that the series is far from over, and we know we havent done anything, but what were supposed to do, which is win at home, taking care of our home court." Game 6 will be Saturday night in Oklahoma City.
[b]Stitched Bruins Jerseys[/b] . The 10-year deal the league and players agreed to that ended the 2011 lockout gave either side the right to opt out after six years. With the league projecting financial growth, there has been speculation that players will take that option in three years, especially since a new national TV contract will be in place by then.
[b]Custom Boston Bruins Jerseys[/b] . - Mathew Barzal scored 3:47 into overtime as the Seattle Thunderbirds downed the visiting Everett Silvertips 4-3 on Tuesday in Western Hockey League playoff action.BROSSARD, Que. - Dale Weise recalls the first time Vancouver faced Boston in the regular season after the Bruins seven-game victory over the Canucks in the 2011 Stanley Cup final.Early in the first period, a brawl erupted as Alex Burrows got a stick up during a line change. Weise was in the main event, trading punches with Bostons Nathan Horton in a long battle away from the main melee. We had a line brawl seven minutes in, Weise, now a member of the Montreal Canadiens, said Wednesday. So I think the fans, the media and everybody got what they wanted there.The gritty winger does not expect quite the same when the Bruins visit the Bell Centre for the Canadiens home opener on Thursday night, or that there will be any spillover of bitterness from Montreals seven-game victory over their archrivals in the second round of playoffs last spring.In the handshake line after Game 7, Bostons Milan Lucic reportedly told Weise Im going to kill you next year, and also had words for defenceman Alexei Emelin.None of the Canadiens take Lucic literally. Weise expects a hard-fought game against a rival and divisional opponent, but not a war.I dont see it being the case, said Weise. The media kinda blows things up a bit and the games have a hard time living up to that, so were just focusing on having a good game.Being our first home game, everyones excited, the crowds going to be jumping and everybody will be ready to go.Lucic took exception to Weises mock muscle flex in the finale, a mimic of the Bruins wingers chest thumping and muscle flexing earlier in the series.The Bruins had a game Wednesday night in Detroit, so there was no word on their approach to the rematch with Montreal, although games between the teams are always tough and sometimes nasty.I expect a loud crowd, I expect us to come out and play well and I expect an intense game, added Weise. Any time Boston plays Montreal theres a lot of animosity.I dont think theres going to be anything extra. Its always there.On Lucic, Weise said: Thats the way he plays every night. He plays hard. Hes intense. I dont think anythings different if he plays us or any other team.That will be seen when the puck drops as the Canadiens return home after starting the season 3-1-0 on the road. The trip included three comeback victories after weak first periods followed by a 7-1 thrashing at the hands in Tampa on Monday night.The Lightning took revenge for a first round sweep at the hands of the Canadiens in the opening round in April.The Bruins will no doubt be seeking vengeance as well, said winger Brendan Gallagher.Weve been in that situation, he said. When you lose to a team in a playoff series; the disappointment, and how badly you want too beat them the next time we play them.
[b]Boston Bruins Store[/b]. ampa was like that. They fully deserved to win that game. They were a much better hockey team, and Bostons going to be the same. We have to match that intensity. We have to do what we did well in those playoff series.Gallagher, who brings a similar grit and intensity but in a much smaller package, trains with Lucic in the off-season in Vancouver. His father, Ian Gallagher, is strength and conditioning coach for the junior Vancouver Giants and has worked with Lucic for several years.Brendan Gallagher calls his Boston rival a good person who happens to play hockey with fire and a strong dose of nastiness.Knowing Looch and the type of person and player he is, hes going to play a good game, said Gallagher. Hes competitive and thats what makes him Milan Lucic and such a tough player to play against.Hes going to be up for it, but our group will be the same way. Its definitely going to be a fun game to be part of. Youre going to have to manage your emotions. Its going to be a battle.Coach Michel Therrien said he expects the usual intensity of a Boston-Montreal game, but he was more concerned about his special teams, which have gone 0-for-14 on the power play and a mediocre 14-for-18 on the penalty kill.The special teams units worked an extra half hour before practice, something Therrien said they werent able to do on the road.Weve got to be better on special teams, said Therrien. We havent had much chance to work on the power play because of the schedule.On the road, we watched video and worked on Xs and Os, but you need to practice. The next two weeks will be good for us because were home for four games and well have lots of time to practice.Left-winger Max Pacioretty said the team needs to bear down more on the power play and earn their chances.Last game we were terrible on the power play, he said. You have to have the same mindset as 5 on 5, in playing hard and winning your battles. Sometimes you get too comfortable on a power play and expect the guy next to you to make a play.It appears the Canadiens will have Emelin back after the defenceman missed two games with an upper body injury. And it looks like Nathan Beaulieu will come out of the lineup, while six-foot-six Jarred Tinordi will play on the third pairing with Mike Weaver.No change is expected up front, unless Therrien opts to give Travis Moen a start on the fourth line, perhaps in Weises spot. Moen is a strong penalty killer.Michael Bournival, who has yet to play this season, was sent to AHL Hamilton to play a pair of weekend games and is to return to Montreal on Monday. Therrien said the second-year forward needs playing time to stay sharp. ' ' '
