Ginobili’s Game-Winning Shot Helps Spurs Edge Suns in 2 OT 117-115

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under NBA PLAYOFFS

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A 3-pointer by an unlikely hero and a last-second layup in the second overtime made all the difference Saturday as Phoenix went into battle at AT&T Center against the San Antonio Spurs; Tim Duncan made his first 3-pointer of the season - which took the game into the first overtime - and Manu Ginobili made the deciding basket with 1.8?seconds left in the second overtime, pushing the Spurs past the Suns 117-115; the win gives San?Antonio a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven?Western Conference series.

Phoenix had controlled most of the first 3 quarters, leading by as many as 16 points despite foul trouble by Shaquille O’Neal; the Suns would go into the fourth quarter leading 71-65.? However, San Antonio would take their first lead of the game late in the fourth period but would be down by 93-90 with 1:10 left in regulation as Phoenix’s Leandro Barbosa made a fast-break layup; with 15 ticks left on the clock, San Antonio’s Michael Finley would tie the game at 93, sending the game into overtime.? With the Spurs down 104-101, Duncan made his first 3-pointer of the season with 3 seconds left in the first overtime, tying the game at 104 and sending the game into a second overtime.

In overtime #2, Phoenix’s O’Neal dunked, knotting the game at 112 with 1:33 left to go; the Spurs’ Ginobili made a layup which would give San Antonio a 114-112 lead.? After a long inbounds pass that saw the hands of San Antonio’s Brent Barry, Barry was fouled; Barry made 1 of 2 free throws, giving the Spurs a 115-112 lead.? The Suns’ Steve Nash would respond as he drained a trey, tying the game at 115; the game would be decided as Ginobili drove the lane and made the game-winning layup with 1.8 seconds remaining.? San Antonio’s leading scorer was Duncan with 40 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, a steal and 3 blocks while Tony Parker scored 26 with 2 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal; Ginobili added 24 with 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals.

Phoenix was led by Amare Stoudemire with 33 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks but 6 turnovers while Nash scored 25 with 3 treys, 4 rebounds and 13 assists; Raja Bell added 14 with 5 rebounds and 3 assists.? San Antonio and Phoenix hook up again in Game #2, which takes place on Tuesday at San Antonio.

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