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San Antonio Spurs 128, Phoenix Suns 123
Phoenix, AZ Jan. 21 / Wire Reports --
Manu Ginobili's career night ruined Steve Nash's return to the Phoenix Suns' lineup.
Ginobili scored 48 points and the San Antonio Spurs rallied from a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to hand the Suns their
sixth consecutive loss, 128-123 in overtime, on Friday night.
``He was remarkable,'' San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. ``He's such a competitor.''
Tim Duncan had 30 points and 19 rebounds for the Spurs, who became the first team to beat Phoenix twice this season.
Nash had 16 points and 13 assists in 46 minutes after missing the last 3 1/2 games with injuries.
Shawn Marion scored 37 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for the Suns. His 3-pointer at the fourth-quarter buzzer that sent the
game into overtime. Amare Stoudemire, coming off a season-low eight-point game on Wednesday, scored 35 in an intense matchup
befitting the teams with the two best records in the NBA.
``I think they're tired and dejected right now,'' Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said of his players, ``but in the back of their
mind, they know `Hey, we're pretty good.''
Brent Barry sank clutch 3-pointers late in regulation and early in overtime and scored 16 for San Antonio. Ginobili, whose
previous career best was 33, made 16-of-22 shots, 5-of-7 3-pointers, and 11 of 12 free throws. His 3-pointer with 56.7
seconds left in overtime sealed the victory.
``What can I say? This was a game that I probably would never expect to have,'' Ginobili said. ``I'm not the first option on
this team. I came in really strong, making shots, so my confidence was built up already. Then I started making tough shots.
I was feeling it and they were all falling.''
With Nash out, the Suns' energized game had also left. But Phoenix was back in high-gear for this one.
``Getting Steve back was a huge boost for us, and we played well,'' Quentin Richardson said, ``but we just showed our youth
tonight. They're a veteran team, and they've won two championships.''
The victory kept the Spurs (33-9) ahead of the Suns (32-10) for the league's best mark.
Down 88-71 after three quarters, San Antonio came back behind Ginobili and took a 109-108 lead on Barry's 3-pointer from the
top of the key with 16.9 seconds left in regulation. After Nash missed a jumper, Duncan was fouled and made two free throws
to put the Spurs up 111-108 with 7.3 seconds to go.
But Marion leaned into a 3-pointer at the buzzer to tie it at 111 and send the game into overtime.
Ginobili's free throw on a defensive three-second call started a 7-0 San Antonio surge in overtime. Ginobili's driving
stuff, Duncan's dunk and another Duncan basket made it 123-115 with 1:55 left.
Marion scored 14 consecutive points, igniting a 23-6 run over the final six minutes of the third quarter to put the Suns up
88-71 entering the fourth. Nash capped the outburst with a 13-footer with 9.8 seconds left.
But San Antonio outscored Phoenix 19-6 to start the fourth quarter, cutting the lead to 94-90 on Ginobili's fast-break
basket with 7:15 left.
The Suns responded again.
Joe Johnson sank a 3-pointer and Marion stuffed it on a breakaway after a San Antonio turnover to boost the lead to 99-90
with 5:51 left in the fourth.
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