I think the most important thing is to compete next year in the Premiership

SAN ANTONIO -- Gregg Popovich urged his San Antonio Spurs to raise their energy to almost maniacal levels, because winning the battle on the boards and for loose balls was critical against the athletic Golden State Warriors. The Spurs responded to their coachs message, outworking and outmuscling Golden State to take a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference semifinals. Tony Parker had 25 points and 10 assists, and the Spurs held the Warriors starting backcourt to 13 points for a 109-91 victory Tuesday night. The Spurs outrebounded the Warriors 38-36, forced 14 turnovers and limited them to 16 second-chance points. "Our energy was good," Parker said. "We got the 50-50 ball; that was huge for us tonight. It was a tough turnaround for us in Game 4. We missed an opportunity at the end and we realize that. Tonight we played for 48 minutes." Kawhi Leonard added 17 points, Danny Green scored 16 and Tim Duncan had 14 points and 11 rebounds for San Antonio. Harrison Barnes scored 25 points, Jarrett Jack added 20 and Carl Landry 16 for Golden State, but Stephen Curry was held to nine points. "I was terrible, plain and simple," Curry said. "They outplayed us as a team. Individually, I didnt have anything on either end. (I was) a step slow, my shot wasnt falling and I was trying to make plays but defensively I lost a little focus." Parker took advantage, going 9 for 16 and turning the ball over only twice in 34 minutes. His energy was just as big a spark. Parker dove over Jarrett Jack midway through the third quarter to corral a loose ball, rising to lead a fast break that resulted in a dunk by Green. Even Popovich displayed more energy, chasing referee Ed Malloy down the sidelines from the free throw line to just past midcourt while screaming and motioning for a timeout with 9 minutes left in the game. The added energy was especially evident against Curry and Klay Thompson. The Spurs held Mark Jacksons self-proclaimed "greatest shooting backcourt" in NBA history to 6-for-22 shooting. Curry was 1 for 7 on 3-pointers, while Thompson was held to four points while not even attempting a 3. "The series for us is all about the defence," Popovich said. "(Leonard and Green) did a good job; (there were) other people who did good work out there. We got a lot of mismatches. They love those mismatches, so we have to play intelligently. I thought we did that tonight. "But we followed up the defence with a board. There is no stop until the board is secured. That was our main emphasis going into the game." Curry has not missed any time since turning his left ankle late in Game 3, but the injury seemed to limit his explosiveness. Leonard stripped Curry and then outran him to the ball midway through the first quarter, feeding Parker for an uncontested layup. Curry appeared to grimace when he attempted to push off to sprint for the loose ball. "It is sore, but I came in feeling good," Curry said. "I was pretty optimistic about how I could play tonight, but it didnt go that way." He played only 4 1/2 minutes in the fourth quarter, leaving the game for good with 4 minutes left and San Antonio leading 102-84. "It got to a point where they had made plays and I had to look towards Game 6," Jackson said. "It was just being smart, thats all. I didnt want to see him get hurt. Obviously, he wasnt 100 per cent. I just felt if we were going to make a run, lets make a run and then maybe get him back in, but it was just a long night for us." The Spurs led for all but the opening 6 minutes of the game and moved one game closer to advancing to their 12th conference finals in franchise history. "Nobody talks about getting this over with like youve got a rash," Popovich said. "Like you can take a pill or put some cream on it, its going to be gone. This is a war. Theyre a class team; they bust their ass at both ends of the floor. Its not about getting rid of anything. Its about going and playing and thats about it." San Antonio went on a 12-2 run to take a 102-84 lead with 4 minutes remaining. The Warriors missed two shots and had two turnovers to facilitate the Spurs run. San Antonio shot 72 per cent in the first quarter, pounding the ball inside for layups and kick outs to open shooters in taking a 10-point lead. Duncan battered Andrew Bogut early, making San Antonios first three baskets on a drive and a jumper over the Australian and on a layup against Landry off a hard pick by Tiago Splitter. San Antonio went on a 15-0 run on a series of drives to the basket and low-post moves, taking a 27-15 lead. Curry and Thompson were held to a combined four points on 2-for-10 shooting in the opening 16 minutes, but Barnes had 13 points and Jack seven. "We just missed shots," Curry said. "Early in the game I got a little off balance a couple (times) trying to get a foul. They play good defence. We didnt get into a rhythm. We just missed shots." Curry did not make his first 3 until there were 2 minutes left in the first half. The Spurs stopped going inside in the second quarter, helping Golden State rally. The Spurs returned to attacking the basket in the third, resulting in another double-digit lead. NOTES: Duncan surpassed Shaquille ONeal and tied Wilt Chamberlain for second on the career post-season list in double-doubles with his 143rd. Magic Johnson heads the list with 157 during his Hall of Fame career with the Los Angeles Lakers. . Parker passed Chauncey Billups for fourth in post-season assists among active players with 832. New Yorks Jason Kidd (1,258), the Lakers Steve Nash (1,061) and Bostons Rajon Rondo (845) are ahead of Parker. . Richard Jefferson, who played with San Antonio from 2010-2011, continues to receive a chorus of boos from the Spurs fans whenever he enters the game or makes a shot. Yeezy Boost 350 V3 Replica For Sale . -- Arizona knocked off some quality opponents, rolled over a few overmatched ones and grinded out victories even when things didnt go so well. Wholesale Yeezy 350 v2 Static .C. -- Al Jefferson joked that he feels he can score from anywhere on the court. http://www.yeezys350cheap.com/fake-yeezy-350-black-wholesale.html . Barcelonas entertaining victory ensured the defending Spanish champions retained their share of the league lead with Atletico Madrid two rounds ahead of their meeting in the capital. Real Madrid needed a late goal by substitute Jese Rodriguez to earn a 3-2 victory at Valencia to stay in third place and three points behind its title rivals. Wholesale Yeezy 350 v2 Clay . Then the Pacers gave Oladipo and his Orlando teammates the cold shoulder. Paul Georges buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter spurred a 21-4 run, finally sending Indiana past the Magic 97-87 in a tougher-than-expected opening night matchup. Cheap Yeezy 350 Fake . LOUIS -- Alexander Steen scored a power-play goal with 59.Former Rangers striker Michael Mols says it is crucial his former club are able to compete at the highest level, should they gain promotion to the Scottish Premiership. Rangers extended their lead at the top of the Scottish Championship to 14 points with a 2-0 win over Raith on Tuesday, and Mols is hopeful the club can be competitive if they can seal their return to the top flight.I think the most important thing is to compete next year in the Premiership, but it takes time, said Mols. Everybody knows that and Mark is building a new team, and from what Ive heard, he wants maybe five or six new players, so that also takes time to settle.Mols, who spent five years at Rangers between 1999 and 2004, also believes his side team can achieve success this season.Rangers face Premiership side Dundee on Saturday live on Sky Sports 2 in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals, and Mols sees no reason why they cannot win the tournament. Harry Forrester scored as Rangers beat Raith on Tuesday to move to within five wins of promotion Its in Rangers DNA to win trophies, and the expectations are always there. Now they are on a good run, and hopefully they can do itt this year with the Scottish Cup.ddddddddddddMols also played in a number of Champions League games for Rangers, including scoring a double in a 4-1 win over PSV in October 1999.But, under proposals to change the format of the qualification stages, it could potentially become more difficult for Scottish clubs to make it to the main tournament. Mols enjoyed a number of Champions League nights with Rangers, but fears Scottish clubs might not get many more opportunities under new proposals The proposed changes would see the champions route removed, which currently allows a path to the group stage for domestic title winners that have not already qualified.I see it as a big problem if its more difficult for the Scottish clubs to get into the Champions League, added Mols.The gap between the top of Europe and the rest will only become bigger, especially now with the Premier League getting so much money. 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