Sat Apr 19 18:55:24 2008

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Ginobili's running layup gives Spurs wild double-OT win in Game 1

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San Antonio, TX (Sports Network) - Tim Duncan had 40 points and 15 boards and tied the game in overtime with his first three-pointer of the season, but it was Manu Ginobili's layup with 1.8 seconds remaining in the second overtime that lifted the Spurs to a thrilling 117-115 win over the Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of their best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinal series.

After Steve Nash tied the game with a flailing three from the left corner with 15.7 seconds to play in the second OT, Ginobili beat Raja Bell down the left side of the lane and banked in a layup to put the Spurs on top. Nash's 70-foot heave was well off the mark as the buzzer sounded and the Spurs escaped with a dramatic win.

Game 2 will be played Tuesday at San Antonio's AT&T Center.

Ginobili scored 24 points for the third-seeded Spurs, who ousted the Suns, four games to two, in the Western Conference semis in 2007 on their way to the NBA title. Tony Parker added 26 points, while Michael Finley scored 13, including a three-pointer in the waning seconds of regulation to force overtime.

Amare Stoudemire led the sixth-seeded Suns with 33 points, but fouled out late in the first overtime. Nash contributed 25 points and 13 assists, while Boris Diaw and Leandro Barbosa added 12 points apiece. Shaquille O'Neal scored 11, but played just 30 minutes due to foul trouble.

San Antonio trailed by as many as 16 in the first half, but rallied to take their first lead of the game late in the fourth quarter. Phoenix reclaimed the lead in the waning moments, but Finley buried a three with 15.1 seconds left to force overtime.

The Suns opened up a five-point lead in the first overtime, but San Antonio again charged back, sending the game to a second extra session when Ginobili found Duncan for a wide open three to tie the game with three seconds left.