PORTLAND, Ore. Marcus Peters Rams Jersey . -- Spurs coach Gregg Popovich took pains to make sure guard Tony Parker was well rested for the playoffs. "I barely played in April," Parker said. "I was joking with Pop if I was still with the Spurs." The break has paid off. Parker scored 29 points and San Antonio took a 3-0 lead in its Western Conference semifinal series against the Portland Trail Blazers with a 118-103 victory on Saturday night. Parker has scored 29 or more points in three of his last four playoff games. He had 20 points in the first half alone in Game 3 against Portland. "Hes been the engine for us," Popovich said. "He started out really well tonight. He made shots, he involved everybody else. He was playing great D at the other end. Hes really playing a whole complete game." The Spurs led by as many as 23 points in the first half, building a big early lead just as they had in the first two games of the series in San Antonio. "I think it just happened," Parker said of the third straight game with a big jump on Portland. "We just wanted to come in and have a good start, take care of the ball and play good defence like we did at home." The teams meet again on Monday night at the Moda Center. LaMarcus Aldridge had 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Portland, which pulled within eight points in the third quarter but couldnt get any closer. The Blazers were hurt by 15 turnovers and only six points from their bench. "Theyre just persistent," Aldridge said. "They play championship basketball and thats what we have to get to." No NBA team has come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a seven-game series. In 2003, the Blazers rebounded with three wins after dropping the first three against Dallas, but ultimately lost the first-round series deciding game. San Antonio, the top seed in the West, is vying for a second straight trip to the finals: Last season the Spurs fell to the Miami Heat in seven games. The winner of the series goes on to meet the winner of the conference semifinal between Oklahoma City and the Clippers. The Thunder lead that series 2-1. San Antonio has dominated this one. On Thursday night, the Spurs built a 20-point lead and won 114-97. The Spurs routed the Blazers 116-92 in the series opener after a hard-fought seven-game series against the Dallas Mavericks. The Blazers were without reserve guard Mo Williams, who has a groin injury. Williams played just 9 minutes in Game 2, and the Spurs backups outscored Portlands 50-19. Williams has consistently brought a spark and leadership off the bench the whole season, and has capably filled in while Lillard rests. Earl Watson and Will Barton helped spell starter Damian Lillard in Game 3. The Blazers took a brief 13-12 lead midway through the first quarter on Lillards step-back jumper. It was just their second lead of the series. But Parker pestered the Blazers and his finger-roll layup put the Spurs up 25-15. Marco Belinellis falling-down jumper pushed the lead to 28-17 before the first quarter was over. Parkers back-to-back 3-pointers gave the Spurs a 58-35 late first-half lead and they went into the break ahead 60-40. Portland rallied to start the second half, pulling to 64-52 after Nicolas Batums 3-pointer. He hit another 3 to narrow it to 68-60, but the Spurs kept the Blazers from coming any closer and led 83-69 going into the fourth. Parkers layup and free throw gave San Antonio a 100-81 lead in the fourth. Portland mounted a rally to get to 103-91 on Robin Lopezs layup with 5:46 left but it was too late. "Pop, you have to give him credit. He looked at the big picture, and rested me (the last month)," Parker said. "When we started the playoffs, he told me Be ready to play 37-38 minutes a game, were going to need you to play at your best. And so far its working." Portland advanced to the second round for the first time in 14 years by defeating the Houston Rockets in six games, clinching the series with Lillards amazing 3-pointer at the buzzer at home for a 99-98 victory in the deciding game. The Spurs have a 3-2 series advantage over Portland in the playoffs, sweeping the previous meeting in the 1999 conference finals. The teams split the regular-season series 2-2. NOTES: Before Game 2 in San Antonio, Blazers forward Thomas Robinson saw a snake in the locker room at the AT&T Center. Because the snake hissed, the team at first thought it was a rattlesnake, but it later turned out it was not venomous. So before Saturday nights game, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was asked if his team had seen any critters in the Moda Center: "We expected a Beaver but we didnt see one," he laughed. ... Tim Duncan moved past Karl Malone into fifth place all-time for career playoff points. He trails only Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille ONeal. John Franklin-Myers Jersey . The former Edmonton Oilers defenceman was with the St. Louis Blues in training camp on a professional tryout. Whitney, 30, had four goals and 13 points in 34 games with the Oilers last season. Joseph Noteboom Rams Jersey . The commissioners office said Friday that Sears tested positive for metabolites of Methandienone. Sears will be 23 in March. He signed with the Braves in June 2013 out of Arizona Christian, an NAIA school, and is on the roster of the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Braves. http://www.laramsfansshop.com/c-81-rams-brandin-cooks-jersey.aspx . Picard had a goal and two assists to help Canada improve to 2-0 at the tournament. Seven different players scored for the two-time defending champions. "Today all four lines played excellent," said head coach Laura Schuler.Carl Robinsons reaction said it all. As Pedro Morales turned home Steven Beitashours shot to give the Whitecaps a 2-1 lead late in the game against Real Salt Lake, our cameras showed Robinson leaping high into the air, fist pumped - a release of tension as much as a show of joy. This was a game the Whitecaps had to win. A week on from the doom and gloom of a heavy defeat in Portland, there was a much different feel ahead of the game at BC Place. Toronto FCs incredible comeback win against the Timbers earlier in the day had handed the Caps the chance to leapfrog Portland back into the playoff places. The Whitecaps players arrived with a spring in their step, knowing they had a golden opportunity. After getting a favour from across the country, the Whitecaps had to get the job done themselves, something they have struggled with since the World Cup break, so when Pedro Morales missed a penalty with the last kick of the first half, there was an all too familiar feeling of deflation around BC Place. Robinson said the half-time team talk was his hardest of the season, and the Caps playoff chances took another turn for the worse when Nat Borchers headed in to give RSL the lead shortly after halftime. But on this occasion, the Whitecaps responded in a positive manner. Theres little doubt Pedro Morales is running in an empty tank. The Designated Player has been playing for 14 months straight, but the captain was able to dig deep in the second half and produced the type of performance that was his trademark in the early months of the season. Having already missed a penalty, Morales showed guts and leadership to step up and take another. He was also on hand to score the winner, and pulled the strings effectively for the Caps after the break. All this after he was nearly taken off at halftime. The Chilean now has 10 goals and 10 assists in his first MLS season and is a lead candidate for the leagues Newcomer of the Year award. For the first time in a while, the Whitecaps young substitutes were able to come on and impact the game. Kekuta Manneh was back to his best, running at defenders and creating chances. He only had 13 minutes to influence the match, but he managed to do so. Cornelius Lucas Jersey. It is something that has been seen too rarely from the 19-year-old this season. He proved again on Saturday that he has all the tools necessary to become a top player, but consistency is a major concern - not just on matchday but in training as well. Darren Mattocks had a much better day than he did in Portland a week earlier and Nicolas Mezquida also played a valuable role off the bench. But on Saturday, there were strong performances throughout the lineup. David Ousted was superb in goal, Matias Laba was excellent throughout, and Russell Teibert had his best performance of the season in the holding midfield role alongside Laba in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Teibert also showed the leadership skills that will likely see him become a future club captain. He was the one to step in and sort things out between Manneh and Mezquida when tempers flared following a delightful run from Manneh who opted to shoot rather than feed Mezquida, who would have had a clear sight at goal. One other moment that caught the eye came late in the game as Mauro Rosales once again proved what a valuable addition he has been to this team. Having left the game, the veteran midfielder was heavily involved on the sidelines, coaching and offering his thoughts to Robinson. With the way this squad has been built, it would be great to see Rosales stay next season - maybe even in a player-coach role. The Whitecaps had to ride a few nervy moments towards the end, but they stood firm to deny Real Salt Lake a point that would have confirmed their place in the playoffs for the seventh straight season. Theres no doubt RSL will make it, but whether the Whitecaps will join them is unlikely to be decided until the very end. The Caps havent been consistently good enough in the last few months, but Saturdays win has at least ensured their fate is back in their own hands. After an emotion-filled afternoon, they have to go though it all again next week with a home match against fourth-placed FC Dallas. With a one point lead over Portland in the chase for fifth spot, there is little margin for error. Vancouver Whitecaps against FC Dallas is live on TSN 2 on Saturday at 7pm et/4pm pt Cheap Heat Jerseys Cheap Bucks Jerseys Cheap Timberwolves Jerseys Cheap Pelicans Jerseys Cheap Knicks Jerseys Cheap Thunder Jerseys Cheap Magic Jerseys Cheap 76ers Jerseys Cheap Suns Jerseys Cheap Blazers Jerseys Cheap Sacramento Kings Jerseys Cheap Spurs Jerseys Cheap Raptors Jerseys Cheap Jazz Jerseys Cheap Wizards Jerseys ' ' '