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A CRUCIAL pair of free throws by Aussie Olympian Patty Mills has put defending NBA champion San Antonio into a strong position in its Western Conference playoff series with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Mills’ free throws - he stroked 6-of-6 in his 18-point tally - came with eight seconds left in regulation at Staples Center in LA and allowed the Spurs to force overtime before winning 111-107.

Warhorse power forward Tim Duncan scored 28 points and super swingman Kawhi Leonard added 23 as San Antonio tied the series at 1-1 after blowing 10-point buffers in both the third and fourth periods.

Hamstrung by foul trouble, Duncan still manufactured four straight points in the five-minute extension to snap a 101-101 tie.

Mills, who saw extra duties when starting point guard Tony Parker left the match early with an injury, completed a lay-up off a Leonard pass.

Then Leonard made it 107-101 with 56 seconds remaining.

The series now shifts to San Antonio for Game Three on Saturday and is the only one of the eight across both conferences tied after splitting the first two games.

Mills’ fellow Aussie, back-up big man Aron Baynes, did not see any action, his Game One tormentor Blake Griffin with his first playoff triple-double of 29 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists.

Golden State leads New Orleans 2-0, Houston is ahead of Dallas 2-0 and the last Western Conference series also is at 2-0 after Memphis beat Portland today 97-82.

The Grizzlies were led by Mike Conley and Courtney Lee’s 18 points apiece, Marc Gasol with 15.

LaMarcus Aldridge led Portland with 24 points, 14 rebounds, four blocks and two steals.

In the Eastern Conference, Atlanta took a 2-0 lead over a tougher-than-advertised Brooklyn 96-91 after bungling a 12-point lead.

Paul Millsap had 19 points for the top-seeded Hawks, Game Three in Brooklyn on Sunday.