SAN ANTONIO — Usually Kevin Durant will get subbed out midway through the first quarter. Saturday was a little different.
Not just for Durant, but for all the Thunder starters. Minutes typically get extended in the playoffs, but with six minutes to go in the first quarter of Game 1, the Thunder was already trailing the Spurs 21-8.
So coach Billy Donovan rode with his starters longer than usual. Durant played all but 1:25 of the first. Russell Westbrook didn't come out until 2:50, Serge Ibaka until 2:22.
“Getting off to a rough start, trying to generate a little offense, trying to get some stops,” Donovan said of why he stuck with the starters.