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Phoenix Suns 107, San Antonio Spurs 101
Phoenix, AZ Mar. 9 / Wire Reports --
Despite getting a coveted win that kept the San Antonio Spurs from sweeping them this season, the Phoenix Suns aren't likely
to get overconfident if the teams meet in the playoffs.
Amare Stoudemire scored 44 points to lead the Suns to a 107-101 victory against the Spurs, who were playing without injured
All-Stars Tim Duncan (ankle) and Manu Ginobili (groin).
``I wanted them to play at full strength, to be honest with you,'' Stoudemire said.
However, it was still satisfying to the Suns, who snapped their longest current losing streak to one team.
Since beating Phoenix in a playoff game on April 27, 2003, the Spurs had won six consecutive regular-season games and two
playoff contest against the Suns.
``It takes a little momentum out of you when they are not playing,'' Phoenix's Shawn Marion said. ``But at the same time we
went out and got the win, and that's all that matters.''
Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said not to read too much into the ragged, tight game.
``They are an NBA team, and it is hard to play those teams,'' he said. ``They played a small lineup the whole time, and they
had nothing to lose.''
The coveted victory wasn't locked up until Stoudemire, who had 13 points in the fourth quarter, dunked for a 105-98 lead
with 1:19 to go on a play that began with Steve Nash missing a short jumper. Marion deflected the rebound to Joe Johnson,
who shoveled it to Stoudemire underneath.
Just before that play, Tony Massenberg and Tony Parker missed layups that would have lifted the Spurs within three points.
``We definitely ran out of gas in the fourth quarter,'' said Parker, who had a season-high 30 points despite going scoreless
in fourth. ``It just got harder and harder to make stops and get rebounds.''
Marion had 18 points and 17 rebounds and Nash had 11 points and 15 assists. Leandro Barbosa scored 15 points off the bench
and Johnson finished with 12.
The Suns earned their fourth straight win and snapped San Antonio's five-game winning streak.
Duncan, who turned his right ankle Sunday, played 30 minutes Tuesday against New Jersey but decided to rest it on the second
half of a back-to-back. Ginobili, who scored a career-high 48 points in San Antonio's come-from-behind 128-123 overtime win
in Phoenix on Jan. 21, also wasn't in uniform.
``I don't think anybody wants them to rest too long,'' the Spurs' Brent Barry said. ``But I know (coach Gregg Popovich) is
certainly looking toward the future.''
The Suns blew a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter during the Spurs' comeback win, but barely had a lead to protect this
time after Parker's buzzer-beating jumper cut their lead to 83-80.
Barbosa made a 3-pointer and Stoudemire had a three-point play in the first minute of the fourth, but Stoudemire also picked
up his fifth foul with 9:34 left and sat out more than 4 minutes.
The Spurs crept within 91-90 on a driving layup by Mike Wilks with 7:08 remaining.
But Marion dunked and made a layup, and Steven Hunter dunked on a give-and-go with Marion in the next 1:08 to open a 97-92
lead. Stoudemire, who had 13 points in the final period, scored the Suns' last 10 points on three dunks and four free
throws.
The Spurs, down 54-44 at halftime, roared back behind Parker, who had 10 points halfway through the third quarter. Bruce
Bowen capped a 22-12 run with a free throw that tied it at 66 with 5:16 left.
Stoudemire had two quick baskets and Barbosa scored in transition as the Suns went ahead 74-66, but San Antonio battled
back.
``It's an opportunity for other guys to get a good number of minutes against a very good basketball team,'' Popovich said.
``You know, not just compete but get the feel out there on the court.''
Stoudemire took advantage of Duncan's absence in the paint, scoring 11 of Phoenix's first 15 points on three
backboard-rocking dunks, a layup and three foul shots.
But, after the Suns went up 40-26 on a runner by Nash early in the second, the Spurs went on a 14-6 run in the next 7:14.
Marion took over late in the first half, scoring on an alley-oop, stealing a pass and dunking again for a 52-42 lead with
1:25 to go.
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