Kori Ellis
05-31-2005, 12:30 AM
Suns show spark: When push comes to shove, this time Phoenix outmuscles Spurs
Web Posted: 05/31/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
Robert Horry watched his 3-pointer arc toward the basket, his right hand held aloft as the ball settled into the net. As Horry spun on his heels, Manu Ginobili pumped his fist and screamed, the sellout crowd of 18,797 howling with him.
The SBC Center was alive again Monday night. The Spurs had chopped away at the Phoenix Suns all fourth quarter, just like they had done in the first two games of these Western Conference finals.
With Horry's 24-footer leaving them within a single point, and Phoenix hurrying into a timeout, the Spurs needed one final push to reach the NBA Finals.
Phoenix, for the first time in the series, pushed back. Joe Johnson buried a 16-footer with Bruce Bowen draped on him. Amare Stoudemire bulled down the lane for a layup. Tim Duncan tried to dunk only to meet Stoudemire's right hand.
The Suns played fast and desperate, and when they were done, they had clawed out a 111-106 victory, reducing their deficit in the best-of-seven series to 3-1.
After Tony Parker clanged one more jump shot at the buzzer, the Spurs walked off the floor, heads bowed, pondering their travel plans to Phoenix for Wednesday's Game 5.
"We're upset, we're angry, but the series continues," Ginobili said. "We're still in great shape. The goal is getting to the Finals, not to sweep them."
With Stoudemire scoring 31 points, Johnson adding 26 more and Steve Nash directing them all, Phoenix refused to be whisked out of the playoffs.
The Suns had spent much of the past two days listening to people question whether their run-and-gun, let-it-fly style was good enough to win a championship.
On Monday, they played as they had all season. Raining down nine 3-pointers. Sprinting up and down the court.
Shawn Marion even started to look himself, totaling 11 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks.
"We just got to do it one more time," Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni said. "And then one more time.
"I think we grew up a lot. Hopefully, we don't take any steps backward."
Duncan took a few Monday. With the Suns frequently double-teaming him, he totaled 15 points and 16 rebounds. His terrific performance at the foul line — he had missed just three of his 36 free throws in the first three games — also ended ugly.
Duncan made only three of his 12 foul shots, with one attempt falling a few inches short of the rim.
"Just a tough night all around," said Duncan, who thought he held the ball too long when Phoenix swarmed him. "From the field, from the line, just everything."
He wasn't alone. Having watched Parker go by them one too many times in the first three games, the Suns decided Monday was as good a time as any to pack the lane. Parker missed 12 of his 17 shots and had six turnovers.
Ginobili scored 28 points and Bowen kept the Spurs alive with a pair of late 3-pointers. Phoenix, however, needed only a little more than three minutes to erase the Spurs' seven-point lead at the half and seize control of the game.
The Spurs, with Phoenix's cross-matchups complicating matters, struggled to find the Suns' shooters in transition.
"As soon as you blink," Ginobili said, "they can kill you."
So, apparently can Stoudemire. Though he didn't get his first rebound until the opening minute of the second half, he delivered an electric performance in the closing minutes.
In addition to driving for a couple of layups — one of which the Spurs thought warranted a charge — he took a rebound out of Duncan's hands. His biggest play came with the Suns clinging to a three-point lead with 34.9 seconds left.
Duncan looked to have a wide-open dunk only to have Stoudemire flash out of nowhere and block him at the rim.
"He just out-willed it," D'Antoni said. "As we all know, to be a champion, that's what you have to do."
The Spurs, coach Gregg Popovich said, didn't do enough.
"We had an opportunity to win it, and then we don't get that charge, and maybe that was a goaltend (on Stoudemire's block of Duncan)," Popovich said. "But that's (bull). Nothing matters.
"What really matters is that if you don't give up that many points in transition, you're not in position for a referee to make or not make a call on this or that. So that's what you concentrate on. Or make your free throws.
"You want to win? Get it right."
No NBA team has lost a best-of-seven series after winning the first three games.
And as Ginobili explained, "You don't want to be the first fool to do it."
Web Posted: 05/31/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
Robert Horry watched his 3-pointer arc toward the basket, his right hand held aloft as the ball settled into the net. As Horry spun on his heels, Manu Ginobili pumped his fist and screamed, the sellout crowd of 18,797 howling with him.
The SBC Center was alive again Monday night. The Spurs had chopped away at the Phoenix Suns all fourth quarter, just like they had done in the first two games of these Western Conference finals.
With Horry's 24-footer leaving them within a single point, and Phoenix hurrying into a timeout, the Spurs needed one final push to reach the NBA Finals.
Phoenix, for the first time in the series, pushed back. Joe Johnson buried a 16-footer with Bruce Bowen draped on him. Amare Stoudemire bulled down the lane for a layup. Tim Duncan tried to dunk only to meet Stoudemire's right hand.
The Suns played fast and desperate, and when they were done, they had clawed out a 111-106 victory, reducing their deficit in the best-of-seven series to 3-1.
After Tony Parker clanged one more jump shot at the buzzer, the Spurs walked off the floor, heads bowed, pondering their travel plans to Phoenix for Wednesday's Game 5.
"We're upset, we're angry, but the series continues," Ginobili said. "We're still in great shape. The goal is getting to the Finals, not to sweep them."
With Stoudemire scoring 31 points, Johnson adding 26 more and Steve Nash directing them all, Phoenix refused to be whisked out of the playoffs.
The Suns had spent much of the past two days listening to people question whether their run-and-gun, let-it-fly style was good enough to win a championship.
On Monday, they played as they had all season. Raining down nine 3-pointers. Sprinting up and down the court.
Shawn Marion even started to look himself, totaling 11 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks.
"We just got to do it one more time," Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni said. "And then one more time.
"I think we grew up a lot. Hopefully, we don't take any steps backward."
Duncan took a few Monday. With the Suns frequently double-teaming him, he totaled 15 points and 16 rebounds. His terrific performance at the foul line — he had missed just three of his 36 free throws in the first three games — also ended ugly.
Duncan made only three of his 12 foul shots, with one attempt falling a few inches short of the rim.
"Just a tough night all around," said Duncan, who thought he held the ball too long when Phoenix swarmed him. "From the field, from the line, just everything."
He wasn't alone. Having watched Parker go by them one too many times in the first three games, the Suns decided Monday was as good a time as any to pack the lane. Parker missed 12 of his 17 shots and had six turnovers.
Ginobili scored 28 points and Bowen kept the Spurs alive with a pair of late 3-pointers. Phoenix, however, needed only a little more than three minutes to erase the Spurs' seven-point lead at the half and seize control of the game.
The Spurs, with Phoenix's cross-matchups complicating matters, struggled to find the Suns' shooters in transition.
"As soon as you blink," Ginobili said, "they can kill you."
So, apparently can Stoudemire. Though he didn't get his first rebound until the opening minute of the second half, he delivered an electric performance in the closing minutes.
In addition to driving for a couple of layups — one of which the Spurs thought warranted a charge — he took a rebound out of Duncan's hands. His biggest play came with the Suns clinging to a three-point lead with 34.9 seconds left.
Duncan looked to have a wide-open dunk only to have Stoudemire flash out of nowhere and block him at the rim.
"He just out-willed it," D'Antoni said. "As we all know, to be a champion, that's what you have to do."
The Spurs, coach Gregg Popovich said, didn't do enough.
"We had an opportunity to win it, and then we don't get that charge, and maybe that was a goaltend (on Stoudemire's block of Duncan)," Popovich said. "But that's (bull). Nothing matters.
"What really matters is that if you don't give up that many points in transition, you're not in position for a referee to make or not make a call on this or that. So that's what you concentrate on. Or make your free throws.
"You want to win? Get it right."
No NBA team has lost a best-of-seven series after winning the first three games.
And as Ginobili explained, "You don't want to be the first fool to do it."