<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">PHOENIX (AP) -- Shawn Marion and Steve Nash triggered a fourth-quarter surge that lifted the Phoenix Suns over San Antonio 91-86 Saturday night, snapping the Spurs' five-game winning streak in a matchup of division leaders. Marion scored 11 in the fourth quarter to finish with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Nash scored 10 in the fourth and had 22 points and 10 assists in the Suns' seventh victory in eight games. The lone loss in the stretch was in triple overtime to the Knicks in New York on Monday night. Boris Diaw also scored 18 for Phoenix, which beat San Antonio for only the second time in their last nine regular season meetings. Tim Duncan had 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Spurs. Manu Ginobili scored 19, Tony Parker 18 and Robert Horry 15 for the defending NBA champs. Consecutive 3-pointers by Horry gave San Antonio its only lead of the second half, 74-72, with 4:48 to play. Phoenix responded with a decisive 9-1 surge. Nash sank the Suns' first 3-pointer of the night, Horry missed a 3 and James Jones made a 20-footer to put Phoenix ahead 77-74 with 3:38 to play. Duncan made one of two free throws, then Marion scored twice, the second on a breakaway stuff to give Phoenix an 81-75 lead with 2:45 left. Nash's 3-pointer with 2:19 to go made it 84-77. Ginobili sank a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 84-80, but Raja Bell followed with a 22-footer and it was 86-80 with 1:09 to play. Nash, a 95 percent free throw shooter, missed two with 39 seconds to left and Nick Van Exel scored to cut the lead to 88-86, but Nash sealed it with two free throws with 12 seconds to go. Phoenix took a 42-40 lead to the break after a foul-filled first half. The Spurs shot 36 percent and the Suns 42 percent. Suns coach Mike D'Antoni drew a technical during a 5-0 San Antonio spurt that tied it at 53 on Duncan's hook shot with 4:35 to play in the third quarter. But the Spurs turned it over on their next two possessions and Phoenix scored the next six, going up 59-53 on Marion's driving bank shot 3:20 from the end of the period. </div> Source Impressive back to back victories by the Suns
This was a fantastic game to watch. Some heart-stopping moments (Damn you Horry, plus Nash's FT misses) as well as some serious scream at the tv moments (hello, offensive basket interference anyone?) and of course some stand up and cheer moments (Nash's 3's, Diaw's block). Couldn't have asked for a better basketball game. Oh and watching Manu get abused multiple time makes my heart soar and my soul sing in pure pleasure. Not that I want him hurt, he's fun (but hard) to watch. But having him elbowed in the head had me clapping. (Yeah I'm bad, I should probably be a soccer fan, huh?)
Does a game like this provide some insight on whether the Suns are a stronger team than last year if they play the Spurs? or is it hard to tell because the Suns didn't have Joe Johnson for a portion of the Spurs series? What pieces do the Suns need to overcome the Spurs?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting SkiptoMyLue11:</div><div class="quote_post">What pieces do the Suns need to overcome the Spurs?</div> Looks like we've got 'em already. They put a big dent in our offense with their solid defense, but we responded back with our own solid D. When it came down to it, we were still able to make our offense work better than their defense. And all of that without our all-star Amare. The only thing I worry about after Amare comes back is team chemistry, but I think we'll be okay in time for the playoffs.
