Finley’s 5 3-pointers, 20 points lead Spurs over Thunder, 119-102

Finley’s 3-pointers leads Spurs over Thunder

AUSTIN, Texas — Michael Finley made five 3-pointers and scored 20 points in 17 minutes to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 119-102 preseason victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night.

The Spurs (3-2) made 14 of 19 3-pointers with Finley perfect from long range. Matt Bonner was 3 of 3 from beyond the arc, while George Hill was 3 of 6.

Jeff Green scored 24 points and Kevin Durant had 23 points and nine rebounds to lead Oklahoma City (2-4).

The loss spoiled a homecoming for Durant, who played at Texas. He played 35 minutes on the court where he swept national player of the year honors as a freshman in 2006-2007.

Durant made six of his first nine shots in front of a crowd that came out to see him but also to cheer for the Spurs. Although the game was a “home” contest for the Thunder, Austin is only about 75 miles north of San Antonio.

Durant tapered off drastically in the second half, finishing 11 of 22 from the field.

Tony Parker finished with 13 points in 23 minutes for the Spurs, Richard Jefferson added 13 and Tim Duncan had nine points and 10 rebounds in 21 minutes.

James Harden scored 17 points for the Thunder.

The Spurs play their final preseason game Friday against Indiana in Bloomington. The Thunder finish their preseason schedule Thursday at home against Sacramento.

Before the game, Durant was presented with a “Kevin Durant Day” proclamation from the city. He scored 20 or more points 30 times and scored at least 30 in 11 games in his one season with the Longhorns. Texas retired his No. 35 — the same number he wears as a pro — last season.

Durant looked right at home on his old court in the first half.

Longhorns fans called his name to get him to turn around for pictures during pregame warmups. At one point in the second quarter, a group of Texas fans in the upper deck started chanting “One more year!”

That was all in fun.

The Spurs were all business on the court in trying to get ready for the regular season. The Spurs shot 57 percent from the field and outrebounded the Thunder 46-35.

Bonner made his 3-pointers in the first quarter and Finley had four in the first half as the Spurs took a 65-56 lead.

Parker and Duncan scored all of the Spurs’ points in an 11-2 run in the second quarter.

Finley made another 3-pointer in the third and the Spurs stretched the lead to 80-64 behind six straight points from Parker. Manu Ginobili and Hill made 3-pointers in the final 2 minutes of the quarter to put the Spurs up 96-74. Durant had just two points in the third.