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Duncan, Spurs look to protect home-court advantage

Apr 22, 2008 - 3:15 PM Phoenix at San Antonio 9:30 pm EDT Western Conference first round Spurs lead, 1-0

SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) -- Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs will try to seal the deal in regulation this time around.

Duncan and the third-seeded Spurs hope to maintain control of their first-round series with the sixth-seeded Phoenix Suns when the Western Conference powerhouses square off Tuesday in Game Two.

Manu Ginobili hit the game-winning basket in the final seconds of double-overtime to propel the defending champion Spurs to a 117-115 victory in Saturday's series opener.

Ginobili was presented with the Sixth Man of the Year Award for his outstanding performance off the bench on Monday. The 6-6 Argentinian averaged a career-high 19.5 points while also adding 4.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.4 steals.

Duncan carried the load Saturday with 40 points and 15 rebounds while Tony Parker scored 26 for San Antonio, which got huge 3-pointers at the end of regulation and the first OT to stay alive in Game One.

"It felt like a Finals game," Duncan said. "But it's just the first game of the first series, and we're going to have to get our energy back coming into the second game."

Former two-time MVP Steve Nash engineered a late charge, nailing a wild 3-pointer to tie the game with 15.7 seconds left prior to Ginobili's heroics.

"We can't let games slip away like we did," Suns guard Raja Bell said. "(Saturday) was very electric, but when you come into San Antonio, you give your best and you get the best."

Despite the loss, the Suns should still have confidence in the series, as they held the lead throughout the entire game with center Shaquille O'Neal sitting on the bench in foul trouble.

It was Phoenix's first loss to San Antonio since acquiring O'Neal from the Miami Heat in a blockbuster trade in February.

"I expect them to make a lot of adjustments," Duncan said. "That's what a series is all about."