San Antonio's star trio of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili combined for 53 points to lead the Spurs to a 91-79 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in their National Basketball Association playoff opener, while Indiana downed Atlanta 107-90.
The result in the first game of the best-of-seven Western Conference series was what many expected after the Lakers lost superstar Kobe Bryant to a torn Achilles tendon the week before the playoffs began.
The Lakers were the last team to clinch a post-season berth.
In the Eastern Conference, Paul George produced a triple-double to power the Indiana Pacers to a 107-90 game one victory over Atlanta.
George posted 23 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds to lead Pacers to their first game-one win in a playoff series since 2006.
