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Parker scores 32 points, Spurs beat Suns 102-96
The defending world champion San Antonio Spurs attempt to take a 2-0 lead over the Phoenix Suns at the AT&T Center, as the teams continue their 1st round playoff series. The Spurs needed a few good shots and the benefit of foul trouble for the Suns in Game 1 to win that one in 2 overtimes. The Spurs were down by as many as 14 in the 1st half before outscoring Phoenix 27-11 in a breakout 3rd quarter.
In Game 1, Tim Duncan finished with 40 points and 15 rebounds and tied the game in overtime with his first 3 pointer of the year. However, it was Manu Ginobili's lay-up with 1.8 seconds left in the 2nd overtime that lifted the Spurs to a 117-115 win over the Suns.
The Spurs still had to withstand a 4th quarter surge that got the Suns within 5 points with 14 seconds remaining, but the defending champions now head to Arizona for Game 3 with a 2-0 lead and home-court advantage in tact. The Spurs finished in 2nd place in the Southwest Division and are the 3rd seed in the West playoffs. The Suns placed 2nd in the Pacific and are seeded 6th.
Amare Stoudemire led the Suns with 33 points but had difficulty after halftime when he shot 2 of 11 from the field. After Steve Nash tied the game with a 3 from the left corner with 15.7 seconds left in the 2nd overtime, Ginobili beat Raja Bell down the left side of the lane and banked in a lay-up to put the Spurs ahead. Nash's shot was well off the mark as the buzzer sounded and the Spurs ended up with a dramatic win.
The Spurs got as many as 17 points in the 4th quarter after taking control in the 3rd. It was Steve Nash who led a 10-0 run to bring the Suns within 96-91 with 2:44 remaining. Ginobili scored 24 points for the Spurs, who have won 7 consecutive playoff contests. Tony Parker added 26 points, while Michael Finley scored 13, including a 3 pointer in the last few seconds of regulation forcing overtime. Tim Duncan, who finished with 18 points and 17 rebounds had a dunk with 1:47 remaining and Parker followed with a bucket to put the Spurs back up 101-93.
The Spurs and Suns have both won two straight Game 2s in the postseason. Last year, the Suns were defeated by the Spurs, 4-2, in the Western Conference semifinals. The series took an interesting turn in Game 4, which was won by the Suns. Robert Horry committed a foul on Steve Nash. Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw left the Phoenix bench and both were suspended for Game 5. Horry received a 2 game suspension for his role in that incident.
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