The AP reports:
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Steve Nash scored 20 points and played with a right eye that was swollen shut as Phoenix swept San Antonio from the Western Conference semifinals with a 107-101 win Sunday night. Amare Stoudemire led the way with 29 points to help the Suns get past the Spurs in the playoffs for the first time in five tries.
“That was ugly,” Suns forward Channing Frye said walking off the court.
Kind of like Nash’s black-and-blue, stitched-up eye.
But it didn’t bother Nash, who scored 10 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter to help smother a rally by the Spurs. Nash was accidentally struck by one of Tim Duncan’s elbows in the third quarter and briefly went to the locker room. He came back with an ice pack on his eye when he finally returned to the court…
Tony Parker scored 22 points to lead the Spurs, who were swept out of the playoffs for the first time since 2001. George Hill had 17 points, and was fouled while hitting a 3-pointer with 26.5 seconds left that gave the Spurs a flicker of hope.
InsideHoops.com notes:
The Suns got a huge boost from Jared Dudley, who came off the bench to shoot 6-of-7, including 3-of-3 three-pointers, for 16 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals in 31 minutes.
Grant Hill was a role player, putting up just four points and few measurable stats in 35 minutes.
Leandro Barbosa shot just 2-for-10, for seven points.
Goran Dragic received just 11 minutes, scoring six on six shots, with three assists.
For the Spurs, Manu Ginobili had a great game aside from miserable shooting, hitting just 2-of-11 shots (but with 10-of-12 free throws) for 15 points, six rebounds, nine assists and five steals.
Tony Parker scored 22, but needed 19 shots to do it.
Tim Duncan had 17 points (on 14 shots), eight rebounds, two steals and three blocks.
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