National Basketball Association

Wednesday's best: Spurs even series with Clippers, take Game 2

Published Apr. 23, 2015 12:59 a.m. ET

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Best game: San Antonio 111, LA Clippers 107 (OT). It took an extra five minutes, but the defending champion Spurs managed to even their first-round NBA playoff series with a Game 2 victory in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

The most compelling initial playoff matchup continued to gather intrigue as the Spurs adjusted to the Clippers’ frenetic energy in the opener, winning behind 28 points from Tim Duncan, 23 from Kawhi Leonard, and 18 from Patty Mills. Mills was the X-factor, subbing in for Tony Parker, who left the game with a tight Achilles.

Chris Paul and the Clippers continue to fight an uphill battle against luck and their skeptics, and they’ll have a lot to prove as they head to Texas with the series tied at 1-1.

Most heartwarming return: Mirza Teletovic surprised everyone by coming back to action for the Nets after missing three months due to blood clots ... the same scary affliction that kept Miami's Chris Bosh off the court after the All-Star break. Teletovic played only four minutes in Game 2 on Wednesday in Atlanta, but it's great to see him back. His Nets lost 96-91 and trail the Hawks 2-0 in the best-of-seven, first-round series.

Best wedgie: No, silly, we're not talking about the underwear trick that bullies play. Get your mind out of the gutter. This is a wedgie:

Most misguided booing: This award goes to Hawks fans, for letting Joe Johnson hear it for the second game in a row. Johnson played seven productive seasons in Atlanta (including six All-Star appearances) and then he and his oversized contract were sent to Brooklyn in a 2012 trade. He didn't leave of his own accord. So where's all this vitriol coming from?

Best tone-setting alley-oop:

This is what the Hawks do: They capitalize on opponents' mistakes, and move the ball with a seemingly supernatural sense of where their fellow teammates are heading on the floor. The Nets gave them a late scare, but the series moves to Brooklyn with Atlanta ahead 2-0.

Most tragic figure: Deron Williams. Like Dallas' Rajon Rondo the night before, Williams showed just how much an elite point guard can devolve after injuries and pressure cause a certain brand of malaise. He had a glaring defensive gaffe late, and also missed a wide-open jumper that would have kept the Nets in the game with less than a minute to go.

Strangest injury analysis: TNT reporter Lewis Johnson brought out some very uncanny, bizarre journalism tactics to discuss the foot injury of Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley Jr.:

Most fun role player: Beno Udrih. The Grizzlies reserve was a nightmare for Portland in Game 1, and went on a delightful eight-point run in the first half of Game 2 that included this improbable finish:

Worst luck: The Portland Trail Blazers and their bodies. Without Wesley Matthews or Arron Afflalo, Damian Lillard’s been terribly overworked, the Blazers' perimeter defense has been paltry, and they really never stood a chance in this game (a 97-82 Memphis win) or series, which they trail 2-0.

Best sideline outfit: Hey, at least Wes is doing something for his team in the swagger department:

Wesley Matthews out here looking like an extra from Guy's "Groove Me" video. #NBAStyle pic.twitter.com/aSDNzC5jTH
— Dee Phunk (@DeePhunk) April 23, 2015

Best Blake amazingness: Hey there, Mr, Griffin:

Best quote: “He won’t have to wait long to get another job.” — San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich on recently fired Oklahoma City Thunder coach Scott Brooks.

Least watchable strategy: Hack-a-Jordan. Sure, DeAndre Jordan of the Clippers is bad at free throws. But why should basketball viewers everywhere be punished alongside him for it? His 6-of-17 mark from the charity stripe in Wednesday's loss was as cringeworthy as ever.

The oldest that Tim Duncan looked: Father Time had another name with about two minutes to go ... thanks to the Clippers' Jordan. The LA big man staked out Duncan’s shot well ahead of time and swatted it away:

Most telling body language: The Clippers' Chris Paul wasn’t too happy with how overtime went:

Best thing to look forward to Thursday: Golden State Warriors at New Orleans Pelicans (9:30 p.m. ET).

The juggernaut Warriors are up 2-0 on Anthony Davis and the Pelicans, but the first two games in Oakland were much dicier than most expected. Davis, the best young big man in the game, is looking increasingly comfortable in his playoff debut, and the emotional boost of playing one at home just might push him and the Pelicans over the top ... and help them grab an upset.

Other things to watch: The Chicago Bulls aim to go up 3-0 with a road game at the Milwaukee Bucks, while LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers try to do the same vs. the Celtics in Boston.