Duncan powers Spurs to win
NEW YORK: Tim Duncan powered the San Antonio Spurs to a 111-106 road win over the Phoenix Suns in a rough opener to their Western Conference semi-final series on Sunday.
Duncan scored 33 points, pulled down 16 rebounds and blocked three shots as the Spurs pulled away in the closing two minutes.
"I thought we did a great job of getting back (on defense)," Duncan told reporters.
"They hit some shots to keep them in the game, but all and all I thought we did a great job of getting back on them," Duncan said.
Phoenix Suns center Amare Stoudemire reaches in on San Antonio Spurs center Tim Duncan during the first quarter of Game 1 of their NBA Western Conference semifinals basketball game in Phoenix, Arizona on Sunday. Reuters |
Tony Parker added 32 points and eight assists for the Spurs.
Phoenix's Steve Nash, who scored 31 points, missed much of the final minute after suffering a bloody cut on the bridge of his nose in a collision with Parker.
He finally went to the bench with about a minute to play and did not return until the closing seconds of the game.
Duncan had the Spurs' go-ahead points, breaking a 102-102 tie with a field goal 1:58 from time.
Parker followed with a jumper 35 seconds later and San Antonio never trailed again.
Parker said his ability to shoot outside played a key role in his game. "I needed to knock down my outside shots," Parker said.
"It's been like that the last two years, every time I play against Phoenix. They are going to give me that shot. If I am able to make that one, then I can penetrate, find my team mates and get everybody involved."
After Parker's final field goal put San Antonio 106-102 ahead, the Spurs scored their final five points at the line.
"It's about like a heavyweight champ," Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni told reporters. "You've got to knock them out, and we didn't do that."
Nash went out of the game with 54 seconds remaining and the Suns down by two. He returned with nine seconds left and the Spurs in control at 110-106.
Amare Stoudemire added 20 points, 18 rebounds and five blocked shots for the Suns.
"Physically, I thought he (Stoudemire) played as good as he has played against me," Duncan said. "He challenged every shot."
Game Two is in Phoenix on Tuesday.
LeBron James and a strong Cleveland defense led the Cavaliers to an 81-77 home win over the New Jersey Nets in the opening game of their Eastern Conference semifinal series at Cleveland.
James blocked a shot by the Nets' Bostjan Nachbar with seven seconds to go to seal victory.
New Jersey had trailed by two after Vince Carter's pair of free throws with 32 seconds remaining.
But James scored on a layup to put the Cavaliers up 81-77 with 19 seconds left before making the defensive stop on Nachbar.
James led Cleveland with 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Game Two is in Cleveland on Tuesday.
Agencies
(China Daily 05/08/2007 page24)
