San Antonio Spurs vs. Memphis Grizzlies playoff preview

Sean Highkin | USA TODAY Sports

Show Caption Hide Caption Breaking down Spurs-Grizzlies Western Conference finals USA TODAY Sports' Sam Amick gives a full breakdown of the 2013 NBA Western Conference finals, which pits the veteran San Antonio Spurs against the upstart Memphis Grizzlies.

No. 2 San Antonio Spurs (58-24) vs. No. 5 Memphis Grizzlies (56-26)

All games at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN except Game 1

Game 1 in San Antonio: Spurs 105, Grizzlies 83

Game 2 in San Antonio: Spurs 93, Grizzlies 89 (OT)

Game 3 in Memphis: Saturday, May 25

Game 4 in Memphis: Monday, May 27

Game 5 in San Antonio: Wednesday, May 29

Game 6 in Memphis: Friday, May 31

Game 7 in San Antonio: Sunday, June 2

Season series: Tied 2-2.

How they made it: The Spurs beat the Golden State Warriors 4-2 in the second round and Los Angeles Lakers 4-0 in the first. The Grizzlies beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 4-1 in the second round and Los Angeles Clippers 4-2 in the first.

Points per game (per 100 possessions): Spurs 103.0 (105.9), Grizzlies 93.4 (101.7).

Points allowed per game (per 100 possessions): Spurs 96.6 (99.2), Grizzlies 89.3 (97.4).

Matchups worth watching: Spurs point guard Tony Parker vs. Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley, Spurs center Tim Duncan vs. Grizzlies center Marc Gasol.

Scoring leaders: Parker (20.3 ppg), Grizzlies power forward Zach Randolph (15.4 ppg).

Why San Antonio will win: Gregg Popovich's team will make any adjustment they need to in transitioning from the hot-shooting Warriors to the physical Grizzlies. They have more consistent outside shooting than Memphis, who won't be able to do much to respond if Danny Green, Matt Bonner or Kawhi Leonard get hot.

Why Memphis will win: The Grizzlies have the perimeter defense to neutralize Parker and Manu Ginobili, and the frontcourt combination of Gasol and Randolph should be more than enough firepower to combat Duncan.

Did you know? The Grizzlies beat the Spurs in six games when they met in the playoffs in 2011 and were only the fourth No. 8 seed in NBA history to upset a first seed. They were the second team to do so since the first round of the playoffs expanded to seven games in 2003.

Prediction: Grizzlies in 7.