Spurs close out Suns to avoid a Game 7
(AP)Updated: 2007-05-19 15:59
SAN ANTONIO - Tim Duncan understands many people, maybe even a few Spurs fans, wanted to see a Game 7 between San Antonio and Phoenix. The Suns, of course, wanted that, too, despite the bumps and bruises they sustained during the series. But the Spurs were dead set against it. And on Friday night, they got their way.
 San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9), of France, drives to the basket as Phoenix Suns guard Leandro Barbosa, of Brazil, defends in the first quarter of their Western Conference playoff basketball game, Friday, May 18, 2007, in San Antonio. [AP] |
The Suns did put a run together Friday in the fourth quarter, but it was too late. With Steve Nash leading the way, the Suns cut a 20-point Spurs lead to five with under a minute to go.
"They fought back in the fourth quarter, never gave up," Duncan said. "Time just ran out on them."
And on their season.
"We left it on the floor. We couldn't get a break. We should have won this. They hit some big shots. We were contesting their shots and they were knocking them down," said the Suns' Shawn Marion. "We were going back and forth battling all night."
The Spurs closed out Phoenix 4-2 and will now meet the Jazz beginning Sunday in San Antonio. It's the Spurs' third trip to the conference finals in the last five years, and they've won the title in 1999, 2003 and 2005.
The Jazz beat the Golden State Warriors in five games to reach the conference finals.
"It's always a good feeling when your team competes at a very high level," said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. "Those are the moments we all coach for and play for. We were fortunate to end up on the winning side of it."
Manu Ginobili had 33 points and a career-high 11 rebounds for the Spurs. Tony Parker added 30 points, while Duncan had 24 points, 13 rebounds and a career-high nine blocked shots.
All-NBA first-team selection Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw of Phoenix were back Friday from their one-game suspensions for leaving the bench area at the end of Game 4 after Robert Horry's flagrant foul on Nash started a minor scuffle.
Stoudemire led the Suns with 38 points, 15 in the fourth quarter, and 12 rebounds. Nash had 18 points and 14 assists.
"I don't know what to say," Nash said. "It would be wasted words. It's very difficult for us to finish the season like this."
Horry missed the last of his two-game suspension for the foul that sent Nash tumbling into the scorer's table and his forearm to Raja Bell in the subsequent scrum just before the Suns sealed a 104-98 victory in Game 4.
Stoudemire said regardless of Game 5, which the Suns lost 88-85, it was Friday that counted.
"We were here for Game 6 and just didn't get it done," he said.
The Spurs let a big lead dwindle in the fourth quarter Friday, just as they did in Game 4, but this time they didn't fall behind. Phoenix got as close as 106-101 with 34 seconds to play, but even Nash's 15 fourth-quarter points couldn't save the Suns.
San Antonio entered the fourth quarter leading 81-67 and Ginobili led the way over the final 12 minutes, hitting a 3-pointer with 10 1/2 minutes to play to make it 86-70. His basket with just over 9 minutes left gave the Spurs a 92-72 lead.
"You've seen Manu before. It's what he does," Popovich said. "He's a very experienced player and he just plays. We'll call his number here and there, but some of the shots, the moves on the 3s he made has nothing to do with the calls. He's used to being in big games and he performs."
Ginobili was 4-of-7 from 3-point range.
Nash, who had just three points going into the fourth period, keyed the 20-7 run that got Phoenix back in the game.
Nash's 3 with under a minute to play made it 105-99. Ginobili made one of two free throws and Marion's dunk brought the Suns within 106-101. But Ginobili made two more free throws and Michael Finley hit a basket to put the Spurs up by nine with 17 seconds left.
Leandro Barbosa and Bell each had 13 points for Phoenix and Marion had 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Stoudemire had 17 points and seven rebounds in the first half, but the Spurs took a 53-51 lead.
Midway through the third quarter the Spurs took charge. Ginobili hit the go-ahead basket to make it 60-59 and sparked a 14-2 run with 6:18 left in the period.
Game 1 against the Jazz is Sunday afternoon.
"It's like a back-to-back. We have to get ready really quick," Duncan said. "They're playing excellent basketball. We have to be ready for execution and physical play."
The Horry-Nash incident was just one among several that marked the series as confrontational, physical and nasty:
- Stoudemire early in the series called the Spurs a "dirty team" and said Bruce Bowen purposely kicked him during the Suns' Game 2 win. Bowen said he clipped Stoudemire, but that he would not kick him on purpose.
- In Game 1, Nash, who had been on the receiving end of several blows during the series, collided with Parker and got a gash across his nose that required six stitches. He had to sit out a crucial stretch in the game's final minute.
- In Game 3, Bowen gave his critics ammunition when he kneed Nash in the groin area. Nash said Bowen told him on the court that the move was unintentional. The foul originally called on the play was later upgraded to a "flagrant foul 1."
- Ginobili sustained a bruised and bloodied eye on a drive to the basket in Game 3.
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