Chapter 144: Returning the Favor.
Two days later, the Grizzlies and Spurs shifted their series back to Memphis for the next game.
In a surprising turn of events, the Spurs claimed a 110-103 victory on the road.
It wasn't due to a poor performance from Han Sen or Randolph; the Grizzlies' scoreline made that clear.
The key was Duncan.
After two games in the series, Duncan was underperforming due to his plantar fasciitis.
But on this night, he switched up his game, aggressively demanding the ball in the low post and quickly drawing a defensive foul on Marc Gasol.
Taking advantage of Gasol's foul trouble, Duncan fearlessly attacked the paint again and again.
While Duncan's plantar fasciitis wasn't magically cured in two days, his eyes radiated an undeniable hunger to win.
As a seasoned veteran, Duncan knew exactly what a 0-3 deficit meant. In NBA history, no team has ever come back from 0-3.
So, this was do-or-die for the Spurs: lose and go home, or win and stay alive.
With Duncan's 30 points, 16 rebounds, and 4 assists, the Spurs cut the series deficit to 2-1.