NBA playoffs 2008: Tim Duncan carries Spurs to Game 1 win over Suns

NBA playoffs 2008: Tim Duncan carries Spurs to Game 1 win over Suns

Midway through the first quarter after missing two jumpers, Tim Duncan threw the ball up yet again, then held his arms wide.

This time, would the shot fall? (SAN ANTONIO News)

It did. And much later the Spurs’ big man hit an even bigger one. Duncan’s first 3 of the season with just ticks left sent his team into double overtime against the revenge-minded Phoenix Suns.

Then it was Manu Ginobili’s turn, and his layup with 1.8 seconds left pushed the defending champions past the Suns 117-115 Saturday in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.

Now the teams have two days to rest from their marathon best-of-seven Western Conference opener before meeting for Game 2 on Tuesday night.

“I got a wide-open shot. Wound it up. Threw it up there and hoped for the best,” said a clearly tired Duncan, who had 40 points and 15 rebounds.

This year’s rematch of what many dubbed last year’s real finals—a tense and testy second-round series between the teams that the Spurs won in six games on their way to the title—got off to a wild start and more than met expectations.

“It feels like a finals game,” Duncan said. “It’s the first game of the first series, and we’re going to have to muster energy back up.”

Early on, Game 1 did not look like it would turn into a thriller. The Suns controlled play for the first three quarters, leading by as many as 16 points despite early foul trouble for Shaquille O’Neal. The Suns held a six-point lead with a quarter left in regulation.

The Spurs took their first lead of the game late in the fourth quarter, but were down 93-90 with 1:10 to go after Leandro Barbosa’s fast-break layup.

With 15 seconds on the clock, Michael Finley tied it at 93 for the Spurs to send it to overtime.

“We had the game won a few times and just weren’t tough enough or disciplined enough to make every single play when it counted,” said Steve Nash, who had 25 points and 13 assists.

Duncan made the big shot in the first overtime. With his team down 104-101, Duncan found himself all alone at the 3-point line.

After only a slight hesitation, he fired the ball and made it with 3 seconds to play. It was Duncan’s first 3 of the season. He was 0-for-4 previously.

“I didn’t know what was going to happen, honestly,” Duncan said. “Manu turned the corner, Shaq just totally leaves me and stayed with Manu.”

In the second overtime, Shaq’s dunk tied it at 112 with 1:33 to play. Ginobili’s layup put the Spurs ahead.

Nash missed a key 3 with less than a minute to play. After risky, cross-court inbounds pass to the Spurs’ Brent Barry, he was fouled. Barry made one of two free throws.

With 15 seconds left, the Suns went to sharp shooter Nash. Nearly falling out of bounds in the corner, he hit a 3 that made it 115-all.

Then Ginobili drove the lane against Raja Bell and got to the hoop, as he often does, almost at will, and his layup fell.

“What I knew, before taking it to the rim, is that Shaq and Amare (Stoudemire) were not there,” Ginobili said. “So, I knew if I had the opportunity to go get in there, get some legs into the shot, I had an opportunity to finish.”

Tony Parker added 26 points for the Spurs and Ginobili had 24.

“We had a lot of opportunities to win,” O’Neal said. “You can’t make mistakes against a team like that especially here in this building.”

But O’Neal wasn’t completely contrite.

“I just wanted to play aggressive, but the floppers prevailed today. Amare and myself are going to continue to play aggressive,” O’Neal said of his foul trouble. “Hopefully those guys will compete rather than just fall down.”

Stoudemire, who fouled out with 12 seconds left in the first overtime, led the Suns with 33 points. O’Neal scored 11 points.

“They know we let them have one,” O’Neal said. “All we need is one in this building.”
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More NBA Videos SAN ANTONIO (AP)—Midway through the first quarter after missing two jumpers, Tim Duncan threw the ball up yet again, then held his arms wide.

This time, would the shot fall?

It did. And much later the Spurs’ big man hit an even bigger one. Duncan’s first 3 of the season with just ticks left sent his team into double overtime against the revenge-minded Phoenix Suns.

Then it was Manu Ginobili’s turn, and his layup with 1.8 seconds left pushed the defending champions past the Suns 117-115 Saturday in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.

Now the teams have two days to rest from their marathon best-of-seven Western Conference opener before meeting for Game 2 on Tuesday night.

“I got a wide-open shot. Wound it up. Threw it up there and hoped for the best,” said a clearly tired Duncan, who had 40 points and 15 rebounds.

Series at a Glance vs.�
Spurs lead series 1-0
Game 1: at SAS
PHO 115, SAS 117 - Final 2OT

Recap | Box Score

Game 2: at SAS
Tue, Apr 22 - 9:30 pm EDT

TV: TNT
Game 3: at PHO
Fri, Apr 25 - 10:30 pm EDT

TV: ESPN
Game 4: at PHO
Sun, Apr 27 - 3:30 pm EDT

TV: ABC
Game 5: at SAS
Tue, Apr 29 - TBA
Game 6: at PHO
Thu, May 01 - TBA
Game 7: at SAS
Sat, May 03 - TBA

TV: TNT
Series Breakdown
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This year’s rematch of what many dubbed last year’s real finals—a tense and testy second-round series between the teams that the Spurs won in six games on their way to the title—got off to a wild start and more than met expectations.