SAN ANTONIO -- The Portland Trail Blazers were clearly rattled by the San Antonio Spurs in the opener of the Western Conference semifinals, and they were almost snake bit before Game 2. Cheap Air Max Outlet . A baby rattlesnake, estimated at about 3 to 4 feet, was discovered in the teams locker room at the AT&T Center about two hours before the game Thursday. It was found by reserve forward Thomas Robinson, who recoiled a few feet after seeing the snake when he moved a bag from his locker. "I didnt (see it)," Portland coach Terry Stotts said. "They said it was a young one." Young or not, guard Mo Williams tweeted that it was a scary experience. Rattlesnakes are a venomous species that can grow up to 8 feet and weigh more than 10 pounds. It takes its name from a "rattle" at the end of its tail that produces a rattling sound when shaken to warn predators of its presence. It is unknown if the rattlesnake found in the locker room made any noise, but Robinsons cries were enough to alert his teammates of its presence. "Well, its bizarre to have a venomous snake in your locker room," Stotts said. "I dont know if its ever happened before. That sounds like an ABA story." The Spurs have a history in the ABA and also with critters in the AT&T Center. The stadium hosts the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo each February and its grounds are used for livestock shows during the three-week event. Spurs guard Manu Ginobili also swatted down a bat that was flying above the court at the AT&T Center on Nov. 1, 2009. Ginobili had to have rabies shots after striking the bat with his bare hands. Fortunately for the Spurs, Ginobili wasnt needed to corral the snake. "I think some people here (captured it)," Stotts said, smiling. "They have them on hand at the AT&T Center. They have a specialist." It probably wasnt a good omen for Portland, which is seeking to even its series with San Antonio. "Or a good sign," Stotts said. "We survived." The Trail Blazers will gladly accept any good fortune after being walloped in their first second-round appearance in 14 years. San Antonio led by as many as 31 points and never trailed in rolling to a 116-92 victory on Tuesday. Tony Parker had 32 points and nine assists, as many as Portland had as a team, as the Trail Blazers never threatened the defending Western Conference champions. Stotts was asked if he thought someone from the Spurs had planted the snake to rattle his young charges. "Youre the investigative reporter, you figure it out," Stotts said, tongue in cheek. Stotts was then asked if he considered returning the favour and planting the snake in San Antonios locker room. "That thing, its like Fort Knox over there. You cant get in," he said. Well, the room with officials Joe Crawford, Bill Spooner, Derrick Stafford and Sean Wright is only about 50 feet away from the Blazers locker room. "And I cant comment on the officials," Stotts said, laughing. Cheap Air Max 90 . They have watched it from afar. And now they have seen it for themselves. Air Max 90 Sale Red . 5 Trade Deadline is drawing closer and teams will be deciding on whether to buy or sell. http://www.cheapairmax2018.us/ . - Roger Federer squandered a big lead and lost to No.SAN JOSE, Calif. - Antti Niemi capped a rough week with a stellar performance.Tomas Hertl scored in the first period and Niemi earned his 29th career shutout in his return to the net, helping the San Jose Sharks beat the Nashville Predators 2-0 on Saturday night for their seventh win in eight games.Niemi missed three straight games for the first time in more than three years after sitting out last Sunday in Edmonton and then being held out of two games earlier this week after getting hit by a puck in a morning skate Tuesday.But after two slow periods to start the game, Niemi made 18 of his 29 saves in the third to get his second shutout of the season.I thought he was very sharp when he needed to be, coach Todd McLellan said. His week hasnt been easy. He gets injured, misses some starts, comes into a game like that and really doesnt get tested until the third period. He was able to stay in it mentally and physically, and made some saves in the third when we needed them.Joe Thornton added an empty-net goal as the Sharks put together one of their most complete performances of the season. They would have won more handily if not for strong play from Pekka Rinne, who made 32 saves for Nashville.Hertl managed to get one past Rinne in the opening minutes and Niemi made it stand up.It was slow in our end for two periods, and we had great chances so it was exciting to see him making those saves, Niemi said. Its exciting playing one of the top goalies.The Predators failed in their bid to complete a sweep of a three-game road trip, having outscored Colorado and Arizona 8-1 in the first two games.Rinne, who stopped 57 of 58 shots in those two wins, was just as good against the Sharks but didnt get enough help for it to matter.It was hard for us to get it going tonight, Rinne said. Sale Youth Air Max. . They played extremely well and we were just hanging on there. They had a lot of speed tonight. They were aggressive on the puck. The whole night they seemed to win every battle.The Sharks dominated from the start, outshooting Nashville 18-7, winning three quarters of the faceoffs, killing two penalties and jumping in front during a strong first period.Scott Hannan started the scoring play with a hard dump-in that Thornton fed to Joe Pavelski. Rinne saved Pavelskis original shot but Hertl knocked the rebound in for his seventh goal.San Jose didnt let up and the game got testy late in the period when Tommy Wingels and James Neal fought during a Predators power play.You try to get off to a good start every night, just sometimes it happens better than other nights for whatever reason, Thornton said. Tonight was one of those nights where we just started fast and it won the game for us, probably.The Sharks continued to control the play in the second period and were only prevented from adding to their lead by some splendid goalkeeping from Rinne. He robbed Pavelski twice on a power play and then made back-to-back stops later in the second against Scott Hannan and Patrick Marleau.The Predators put some pressure on in the third after coach Peter Laviolette juggled his lines but Niemi was up to the task.We didnt generate anything for two periods, Laviolette said. We were just trying jump-start something. ... We had a lot of opportunities in the third but we just couldnt get it to fall.NOTES: Four of Thorntons eight goals this season have been empty-netters. ... Predators star D Shea Weber missed most of the second period to get stitches in his arm getting cut on the skate of Sharks F Tye McGinn. ' ' '