Spurs’ Big Three beat Suns in game 2. Phoenix in 0-2 series hole
(Ronald Martinez/NBAE photos) San Antonio’s Big Three led the Spurs past the Suns 102-96 in game 2 of the first-round playoffs series. San Antonio now leads the best-of-seven series 2-0.
Tony Parker had 32 points and 7 assists, Tim Duncan scored 18 points and grabbed 17 rebounds while Manu Ginobili added 29 points off the bench for the Spurs.
San Antonio had 23 fast break points to the Suns 4. The Suns were supposed to run, not the Spurs.
Phoenix blew another big first-half lead and was outscored 27-11 in the third quarter. The Spurs controlled the game the rest of the way holding off a possible Suns come back.
This time the game didn’t provide the drama of game 1 as the Spurs held the Suns in check in the second half. San Antonio led by as many as 17 points in the fourth quarter before the Suns cut the lead to five with less then 3 minutes left.
Again, like in game 1, the Suns build their first-half lead on some fine shooting (61.4 percent) but shot only 27.8 percent in the second half.
Stoudemire (33 points, 7 rebounds) scored 25 points on 11-for-14 shooting in the first half while scoring only 8 points (2-for-11 from the field) the rest of the way.
Steve Nash scored 23 points and added 10 assists while Shaq had 19 points (6-for-13 from the field and 7-for-14 from the line) and a team-high 14 rebounds.
Grant Hill, clearly injured, played less then 20 minutes missing the only shot he took in the game. How sad is it to understand Grant is hurt for the playoffs after having a very productive and - generally speaking - healthy regular season?
“They did what they were supposed to do…they won at home. Now we have to go do what we’re supposed to do and win at home. Come Friday we’ll be ready.” Let’s hope Grant Hill is right.
Suns got nothing (13 points, 6-of-19 from the field, 7 rebounds combined) from their bench, as Diaw scored 9 points, Giricek only 4 points and Barbosa didn’t score at all (0-for-7 in 24 minutes). “I think it was a bad day for me. I couldn’t make my shots” said Leandrinho after the game.
The Suns are now deep in their 0-2 hole with the pressure of needing to win both home games to save the series and their season. The Suns have to protect their home court and possibly even the series before going back to Texas for a possible game 5.
“Our team has a lot of work ahead but we’re not discouraged” Coach D’Antoni commented after the game.
There’s not much time left, unfortunately.
The first of two home games vs. the Spurs is set for Friday night (7:30 PM).
Yours truly, Steve Fan
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Posted by Steve Fan
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