CEDAR PARK, TX – After forcing a deciding Game 3 last night with a 98-86 victory over the Bakersfield Jam, the Austin Spurs look to keep their playoff run alive and advance this afternoon.
But if the Spurs are going to move on to a Western Conference Finals date with the Santa Cruz Warriors, they’re going to have to do so without Kyle Anderson, who was recalled back to San Antonio just hours before tipoff.
Spurs recall @KyleAnderson5 from the @austin_spurs.
DETAILS: http://t.co/qgcgfyBt7C
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) April 12, 2015
In six stints with Austin this season Anderson has appeared in 26 regular season games, averaging 21.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.96 steals and 1.46 blocks in 40.0 minutes. He has also appeared in two playoff games for the Spurs this postseason, averaging 16.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.50 steals in 35.0 minutes.
The former UCLA Bruin has appeared in 31 games for San Antonio this season, averaging 2.4 points and 2.3 rebounds in 11.3 minutes.
In Anderson’s two playoff games in Austin, he averaged 16.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.5 steals, while struggling from the field shooting 35.5% on field goals. Anderson missed all seven of his three point attempts this postseason.
This series being split should be a surprise to no one. These teams split their regular season series in the most even way possible, splitting two blowouts and two close contests. But now it’s going to take some (slightly) unfamiliar names to take charge if the Spurs want to advance.
Mouhamed Sene and Orlando Johnson were the heroes of Game 2, combining for 48 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists. Jarell Eddie and Jonathan Simmons both added another 12 points each. And with Kyle Anderson gone, it will be up to either Eddie or Simmons to step into the starting lineup and deliver a clutch performance for Austin to make it to the Western Conference Finals.
Who: Bakersfield Jam @ Austin Spurs
When: Game 3 – Sunday, April 12th, 2015. 1:00 PM CST
Where: Cedar Park Center – Cedar Park, TX and also on ESPNews
