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Spurs try to eliminate Suns in Game Six

May 18, 2007 - 12:55 PM Phoenix at San Antonio 9:30 pm EDT Western Conference Semifinals Game Six

SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) -- Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs received a break on Wednesday. Now they hope the Phoenix Suns won't break back.

Duncan and the Spurs look to close out their Western Conference semifinal series when they host the Suns in Game Six on Friday.

San Antonio won at Phoenix, 88-85, Wednesday to take a 3-2 series lead. The Suns played without All-Star center Amare Stoudemire and his backup Boris Diaw, who were serving a one-game suspension for leaving the bench area in Game Four.

After trailing by 11 at halftime, the Spurs outscored the Suns, 32-23, in the fourth quarter to move within one victory of their fifth conference final trip in the last 10 years.

Manu Ginobili had 26 points and 10 rebounds and Duncan added 21, 12 and five blocks for San Antonio.

Stoudemire and Diaw were suspended for Game Five on Wednesday for leaving the bench during a scuffle late in Game Four. Spurs forward Robert Horry committed a flagrant foul that sent Steve Nash sprawling into the scorer's table.

Horry then proceeded to scuffle with Suns guard Raja Bell, resulting in a two-game suspension for the 15-year veteran.

Horry will sit out again Friday.

Shawn Marion scored 24 points and grabbed 17 rebounds and Nash added 19 and 12 assists for the Suns, who shot only 40 percent in Game Five, including just 7-of-22 and 2-of-8 from 3-point range in the fourth quarter.

Nash, Bell and Marion each played more than 45 minutes Wednesday to make up for their suspended teammates. Kurt Thomas, who averaged 18 minutes during the regular season, also played 36 minutes.

"We all had to play a lot of minutes, and I'm sure we were all tired," Nash said. "But you bounce back, you take care of yourself and you get your rest."

Phoenix has had some success away from home vs. San Antonio in the postseason. The Suns are 6-11 all-time in playoff games held in San Antonio, and are 2-2 in their last four at the AT&T Center.

Since the 2005 playoffs, the Spurs are 6-3 when they can close out an opponent in the playoffs.