More than 1,000 fans welcome Spurs home

Tim Duncan waves before getting into his car after the San Antonio Spurs team members arrived at San Antonio International Airport on Friday, June 21, 2013, after representing the NBA's Western Conference in the Championship Series. They lost to the Miami Heat. Head coach Gregg Popovich is at right. less Tim Duncan waves before getting into his car after the San Antonio Spurs team members arrived at San Antonio International Airport on Friday, June 21, 2013, after representing the NBA's Western Conference in ... more Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 41 Caption Close More than 1,000 fans welcome Spurs home 1 / 41 Back to Gallery

If you didn't know that the Spurs lost Game 7 of the NBA Finals, you wouldn't have guessed it by the scene Friday at International Airport.

About 150 fans lined up at the gate outside Landmark Aviation at noon. The crowd swelled to more than 1,000 by the time the team's plane touched down at 1:30 p.m.

“I've never seen a crowd like this,” said Janet Shires, owner of the Pilot Shoppe across the street from where people had started lining up. “And they lost!”

The Spurs fell in Game 7 of the series with a 95-88 loss to the Miami Heat. Fans nonetheless were excited to see the four-time champions return.

Shires, who has owned the Pilot Shoppe for 28 years, said she's used to people standing outside the airport gates to catch a glimpse of their favorite players, but the crowd Friday was unprecedented.

“There's usually about 10 people who are always here for the Spurs, but this ... ” she said, pausing as she scanned the masses, “is amazing.”

As the crowds and anticipation swelled, police tried to keep order.

“I don't think anybody planned for this,” an SAPD officer said as the group grew by the minute.

Fans, some holding umbrellas to protect them from the stifling midday sun, were stacked from the property fence to the blacktop shoulder of the two-lane street.

Police put up barricades to keep them to one side of Sandau Road; when they spilled across the street, police used yellow caution tape to prevent fans from blocking traffic.

The Delta plane carrying the team landed as the temperature pushed 90 degrees, and the crowd — sweaty, thirsty and exuberant — cheered.

While players disembarked, they broke into familiar chants of, “Go Spurs Go!”

“You guys are the best that you do this when we lose. This is unbelievable,” Coach Gregg Popovich said over a loud speaker. “Thank you very much for coming out.”

The crowd improvised a new chant in return: “Thank you, Spurs!”

stressler@express-news.net

Twitter: @sarahtress