Duncan’s three, Ginobili’s game winner send Spurs to 2OT win

Tim Duncan made his first three point attempt all season to send the game into the second overtime and Manu Ginobili drove past the Suns defense for the game winner with 1.8 seconds left to lift San Antonio to an exhilarating victory over Phoenix, 117-115. Tim Duncan finished with 40 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists in a hard fought battle between two Western Conference heavyweights. Ginobili added 24 points and 5 assists for a San Antonio team that was down for nearly the whole game.

Michael Finley hit a three pointer with 15 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 93. With the spurs down three again in overtime, Duncan received a great pass by Manu Ginobili for a wide open three. He hesitated to get his feet set, but drained the dagger, pumping his fist in celebration. The shot was big for two reasons, one being, obviously, that it sent the game to an extra period but it also sent the Suns into the second overtime without Amare Stoudemire, who had fouled out earlier in the extra 5 minutes. With the hole left by Stoudemire, the Spurs attacked the hoop, as was evident on the final play of the game. Ginobili used his speed to go around 2 Suns defenders for the easy lay-in. Phoenix, who wasted a timeout earlier in the period, had none left to set up a final play. Steve Nash’s desperation half court three at the buzzer fell short, giving San Antonio the 1-0 edge in their first round playoff series.

Phoenix’s bigs, Stoudemire and Shaquille O’Neal, were marred in foul trouble from the fourth quarter on, allowing the Spurs to get many baskets in the paint because of the tentativeness of the Suns power forward and center. Amare finished with 33 points, but his lack of presence during the 2nd overtime hurt the Suns dearly. The Suns had many chances to rap the game up in regulation, but couldn’t score on their final posessions of the fourth, leading to the three by Finley.

The Suns seemed to have the chance to pull away in the first overtime when they went up 102-97 on a three pointer by Nash with just over 2 minutes left. Tim Duncan hit a jumper, cutting Phoenix’s lead to three, 102-99. The Suns answered with a basket by Stoudemire, increasing their lead to 5 once again. Tim Duncan scored the final 5 points of the period, including the three, giving the Spurs the momentum that eventually sent them to victory.

Despite fouling out in the second overtime, Tony Parker finished with 26 points and 5 assists. Finley added 13 points and Kurt Thomas, who gave the Spurs their first lead of the game late in the 4th quarter, scored 4 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. His defense was excellent on O’ Neal and Stoudemire when Duncan needed a rest, as well as keeping the Spurs in the game by taking some crucial charges on the Suns penetrating guards.

Steve Nash hit a three pointer to tie the game at 115 before the winner by Ginobili. He finished with 25 points and 13 assists behind Stoudemire’s performance. Phoenix just couldn’t contain Tim Duncan, allowing him to shoot 16-24 from the field as he took over the game.