GAME THREAD: NBA: PHOENIX (17-7) at SAN ANTONIO (18-5)

NBA: PHOENIX (17-7) at SAN ANTONIO (18-5)

<h3>Nash, Suns face Spurs in playoff rematch</h3>

<div class="pre">Phoenix (17-7) at San Antonio (18-5) 8:30 pm EST</div>

SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) - The Phoenix Suns would like to forget theway last season ended.


Steve Nash and the Suns on Monday face the defending championSan Antonio Spurs for the first time since being eliminated inthe controversial Western Conference semifinals last May.

The Spurs left the Suns battered and bruised during the six gameseries. Steve Nash missed a good portion of Game 1 because ofa gash in his nose.


Then in Game 4 with the series tied at 2-2, Robert Horry's hipcheck of Nash into the scorer's table led to the one-gamesuspensions of Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw, who left thebench in support of their teammate.


With Phoenix shorthanded, San Antonio won the next two games toclinch the series. The Spurs then capped the run with theirfourth championship in the last nine years when they sweptLeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.


The Suns will undoubtedly be angry about last season's outcome,as well as the fact that they suffered a 101-98 loss to NewOrleans on Saturday. Nash was held to just 12 points and sevenassists in the loss.


Meanwhile, San Antonio received a boost on Saturday when TimDuncan returned to the lineup in a 102-91 win over Denver aftermissing four games because of a sprained ankle.


While they are glad to have Duncan back the Spurs may still beshorthanded. San Antonio, which has lost three of four, may nothave Final MVP Tony Parker for this one. Parker has missed thelast two games because of a sprained ankle.


San Antonio has dominated the recent series going 7-3 vs.Phoenix in the regular season since 2004-05, and 8-3 in 11postseason meetings.

 

NBA: PHOENIX at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">PHOENIX VS SAN ANTONIO - INACTIVES

PHOENIX SAN ANTONIO

PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON
D STRAWBERRY COACH'S DECISION F ELSON SPRAINED ANKLE
I MAHINMI NBDL</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">PHOENIX AT SAN ANTONIO - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS


PHOENIX SAN ANTONIO

F Grant Hill F Bruce Bowen
F Shawn Marion F Tim Duncan
C Amare Stoudemire C Fabricio Oberto
G Steve Nash G Jacque Vaughn
G Raja Bell G Michael Finley

OFFICIALS: Jack Nies
David Jones
Eric Lewis</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 6
SAN ANTONIO 8 8:54 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 15
SAN ANTONIO 14 5:48 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 20
SAN ANTONIO 18 3:08 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 26
SAN ANTONIO 20 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PHOENIX 26 26
SAN ANTONIO 20 20 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

PHO - GRANT HILL 8, RAJA BELL 7, SHAWN MARION
5
SAS - TIM DUNCAN 10, JACQUE VAUGHN 6, MANU
GINOBILI 2</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 35
SAN ANTONIO 28 8:49 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 42
SAN ANTONIO 36 6:10 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 44
SAN ANTONIO 44 2:57 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 51
SAN ANTONIO 50 HALFTIME</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PHOENIX 26 25 51
SAN ANTONIO 20 30 50 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

PHO - GRANT HILL 12, AMARE STOUDEMIRE 10, RAJA
BELL 9
SAS - TIM DUNCAN 24, MICHAEL FINLEY 7, MANU
GINOBILI 6</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 54
SAN ANTONIO 56 8:39 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 58
SAN ANTONIO 57 6:04 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 65
SAN ANTONIO 65 2:53 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 74
SAN ANTONIO 67 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PHOENIX 26 25 23 74
SAN ANTONIO 20 30 17 67 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

PHO - GRANT HILL 16, LEANDRO BARBOSA 11, AMARE
STOUDEMIRE 10
SAS - TIM DUNCAN 28, JACQUE VAUGHN 12, MANU
GINOBILI 11</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 76
SAN ANTONIO 77 9:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 83
SAN ANTONIO 81 5:30 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>