Trail Blazers Head Coach Terry Stotts(Opening statements…)“Both teams played very well, and they were both very competitive. It looked like we were dead in the water the first and second overtimes, but I was really proud of the way we kept competing. Obviously it helped that we made some great shots, but there was some trust and confidence involved. This was a big win for us. Probably our best win of the season.” (On the effect of this win on the team…)“To beat a team as good as San Antonio on their court is something that we needed to do. We have things that we want to do this season, and to do those things we need wins like this. The game at our place they didn’t play their guys, so I wouldn’t compare the two games. As tight as the West is, it was important to get two wins against San Antonio.” (On the team’s efforts throughout the entirety of the game…)“We had contributions up and down the line. I thought everyone contributed and helped with the win.” (On Damian Lillard’s performance…)“He is a tough competitor. He carried us in the third overtime. Whether the shots were going in or not, he was an extreme competitor.” (On the matchup between Tim Duncan and LaMarcus Aldridge…)“I knew we would be putting LA [LaMarcus Adridge] on Duncan probably in the second half. I didn’t want to do it in the first half, so everyone took turns. I thought watching LA and Duncan go at it head-to-head in the fourth quarter and the overtime was good basketball.” Trail Blazers Guard Damian Lillard:(On coming out strong at the start of the third overtime…)“It turned into one of those games where players have to play and I thought our team did a great job in the first two overtimes of just overcoming the bad starts. We had back-to-back bad starts in those overtimes. We saw how they were guarding LA [LaMarcus Aldridge] on the block, really trying to give him a hard time, sending a lot of guys at him. I knew that I was the next guy in line to start attacking. I got a few shots to go, got in a rhythm and I just decided to keep attacking.” (On winning this game without Robin Lopez and Nicolas Batum and what it says about the team…)“First of all, it says that we’re a resilient team. [Robin] Lopez goes down, but we still remember who we are. We know what we’re capable of. I think we have to give a lot of credit to our guys off the bench. We have a lot of guys that haven’t been getting a lot of opportunities and the last couple of weeks we’ve needed them. The work that they’ve been putting in all season before practice, after practice, just keeping themselves ready. Taking care of their bodies, keeping their minds right, it’s been really showing through.” Trail Blazers Forward Dorell Wright:(On having a big game off the bench…)“It has a lot to do with having a great supporting cast. A good inner circle, good teammates, guys that encourage you each and every day. I’ve been in the league for a while now and it’s not the first rodeo with me not being able to get a chance to go out there and play each and every night. Just staying ready so when my name is called I can go out there and contribute any way I can. I’m just happy I was able to go out there and contribute and help the team get a big win. This is a tough trip and I’m just happy to be in the position to help the team win.” (On if he remembers the three-pointer that tied the game at 89 in the fourth quarter…)“To tell you the truth, I don’t remember anything right now. It’s just crazy to me. You get caught up in the moment being out there and competing at a high level. I’m definitely going to watch the film when I get on the plane, just to watch everything and see what I can get better at as well. I know it was a big three.” (On what the win does for the team considering the injuries to Nicolas Batum and Robin Lopez…)“It’s big because once those guys get back, we’re developing guys to be a stronger bench, to be a good backup just in case anything else happens. Last year we were fortunate enough just to have one guy go down. Now these young guys are all getting an opportunity and it’s great. It’s the best way to get better and learn how to contribute and win. It’s big time.”
Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich(On the Spurs performance…)“I’m proud of the whole team and what they have done. It’s a different group every night. It would almost be better if you had two guys injured, and you knew it for three months. It is different every night, and it keeps them out of rhythm. We are wearing some guys down though. Timmy [Duncan] is a big worry in that respect and so is Manu [Ginobili]. I’m really proud of them, and they did a great job under tough circumstances. Timmy in particular was a ‘Back to the Future’ type of deal. He was amazing.” (On his decision to make mass substitutions…)“It was just to keep energy. It was the only thing we could do because we don’t have a rhythm anyway of one team that is used to each other. It is a different team every night, so we just tried to bring more energy. They did a great job down the stretch, and the overtimes changes everything. You keep certain guys on the court and hope you win.” (On his expectations of the team after Wednesday’s triple overtime game vs. Memphis…)“I expected what I saw. We have great character guys, and they come and do their work. That’s why I feel so bad for them and am proud of them. It will serve us well though as the season goes on.” (On the official reviews…)“They were obviously the right calls. They went to the TV and that is the way it goes.” Spurs Forward Tim Duncan:(On the back-to-back triple overtime games…)“Unheard of. I didn’t think obviously that it would get to this point. I thought we played a pretty solid game all night. Those guys just made shot after shot after shot to get themselves back into it. Everything just seemed to bounce their way, just unfortunate for us. We expended a lot of energy, we put everything into it and we played hard. We thought we made enough plays to win, just we couldn’t get over the hump.” (On the minutes he has played over the last two games…)“In that situation I am not drained. I am running on adrenaline and I am ready to go. I know I will feel it tomorrow.” Spurs Guard Danny Green:(On the hockey-like substitutions…)“First time experiencing that here, and anywhere honestly. I think it was good to keep our energy up and to keep us fresh. It was five minutes at a time about. We’re low on energy right now. We’re low on bodies. I consider myself a young guy, and those five minutes were good minutes for me. I felt myself getting tired pretty quick too.” (On moral victories and being in a position to win without Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker…)“Our effort, that is one category that we are satisfied or happy with. We are learning and growing that is the best thing about it, the positive we can take out of it. Moral victories are not what we do, but learn from it and move forward. The best thing about this league is there is another one tomorrow. We just need a night where everyone is clicking. Don’t turn the ball over as much and making some shots. Defensively playing smarter.” (On guarding Damian Lillard…)“He’s a special player. That last OT he just took over pretty much. It didn’t matter what we threw at him, he attacked the rim well for them. He got them in overtimes, finished well, strong, impressive, hitting step-back fade-aways over the backboard from out of bounds. When a special player gets hot that’s what it looks like, it’s hard to stop him. Got to give them credit, give him credit, he led their team to victory. They played well, made the plays they needed to down the stretch to win the game.”