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Thunder calm after blowing Game 1 lead to Spurs

Posted: 8:23 PM May 28, 2012

The San Antonio Spurs are used to hearing far worse from coach Gregg Popovich than his orders to get "nasty."

But the Oklahoma City Thunder aren't used to giving away leads like the nine-point edge they surrendered to start the Western Conference finals. Coach Scott Brooks said Monday the Thunder are usually a "good close-out team" but still let the Spurs rally for a 101-98 win Sunday night.

Among the mistakes that Brooks admitted was keeping Serge Ibaka on the bench late. Ibaka was runner-up in the NBA Defensive Player of the Year balloting, but Brooks kept his defensive ace sidelined in favor of staying small.

Brooks says he wished he would've put Ibaka back on the floor.

He now knows better for Game 2 on Tuesday night.