Spurs cling tight to winning margin

— -- SAN ANTONIO -- The first-round series between the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks has been as close as they come. Like Donnie and Marie close. Or, to keep it in the realm of basketball references, Doug and Jackie Christie close.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said before his team's 109-103 Game 5 win Wednesday that the razor-thin edge between the two teams has merely been a reflection of the Western Conference playoffs as a whole this spring.