USA - France's Parker, Argentina's Manu outshine Suns

SAN ANTONIO (NBA) - International duo Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker led the charge as the San Antonio Spurs booked their place in the Western Conference finals and put the Phoenix Suns in the shade.

Argentina’s Ginobili had 33 points and 11 boards and France’s Parker added 30 points as the Spurs won 114-106 in Game Six of their semi-final to advance with a 4-2 series win.

Tim Duncan collected 24 points, 13 rebounds and nine blocks for the Spurs.

Despite the return of Team USA’s Amare Stoudemire and France’s Boris Diaw from suspension, Phoenix had no answer for the Spurs.

San Antonio advance to face fourth-seeded Utah for the right to play in the NBA Finals. Game One will be in San Antonio on Sunday.

"I don't know what the (heck) we're going to do," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.

"I've been kind of absorbed with Phoenix, so I haven't really thought about anything yet.

“We respect them and model some of what we do after them. They're one of the best executing teams in the business. They're tough and they play for 48 minutes."

The Spurs, who have won three NBA championships since 1999, will be making their first trip to the conference finals since hoisting the trophy in 2005 thanks to tough victory on Friday.

"It was another hard-fought, physical basketball game," Popovich said.

"We're thrilled with the win. (Suns coach) Mike D'Antoni, his staff and the Suns' players are an unbelievable basketball team.

“They're great in a lot of ways on both ends of the court. Frankly, I can't figure out how we did this. I have a lot of respect for them."

But in a series rife with controversy, the clinching game was not easy. The Suns, who trailed by as many as 20 in the fourth quarter, did not go down without a fight.

This was an often brutal series, marked by bloody noses and bruised faces as things got physical on several occasions.

But Friday’s finale was all about the basketball.

Phoenix attempted a furious comeback in the final period - outscoring the Spurs, 39-33 - but fell short as it could not string together enough quality defensive stances down the stretch.

After converting one field goal in the first quarter, Suns guard Steve Nash did not score again until the 8:18 mark in the fourth.

But that hoop was the start of 10 straight points for his team by the two-time MVP, who capped his personal run with a short jumper in the lane to climb within 96-82 with 6:06 left.

Phoenix got as close 106-101 on Shawn Marion's follow jam with 34 seconds left, but it was too little, too late. It was the last in a series of disappointing losses for Phoenix in the best-of-seven matchup.

"We understand the importance of finishing teams when you get the chance," Duncan said.

"We also have a healthy respect for our opponent. In the time I have been here, we have only been in one Game Seven, I believe, because we understand the pressure that it brings."

San Antonio held just a two-point lead at half-time but came out with a point to prove in the third quarter, outscoring Phoenix, 28-16.

"At the end of the day, if you want to win a championship, you have to win big games on the road," Parker said.

"Phoenix is a great team, but I thought we played better."

Stoudemire collected 38 points and 12 rebounds and Nash added 18 and 14 assists for Phoenix, which lost in the conference finals each of the previous two seasons and fell further short of its championship goal this campaign.

James leads Cavs into Eastern finals

LeBron James collected 23 points, eight rebounds and eight assists as the Cavaliers advanced to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 1992 with an 88-72 victory over the New Jersey Nets.

Donyell Marshall celebrated his 34th birthday at New Jersey's expense, scoring nine of his 18 points in the fourth quarter for Cleveland.

The Cavaliers advance for another post-season meeting with the Detroit Pistons. Last season, Cleveland lost to Detroit in seven games in their second-round matchup last season.

But this time around, a trip the NBA Finals will be up for grabs in a meeting between the East's top two seeds.

"It's a great feeling, I'm not going to lie," James said. "This is one of the best feelings I've ever had.

“We've been talking about championship all year and now we're closer to what we want to accomplish."

But before securing their appointment with the Pistons, the Cavaliers needed to eliminate a feisty Nets squad.

Cleveland raced out to a 22-point lead in the second quarter, but New Jersey staged a furious rally in the third after James went to the bench with his fourth foul at 6:50.

Cleveland saw its 15-point lead evaporate quickly, missing 10 consecutive shots and 11 of 12 as New Jersey's Jason Kidd took over. Kidd scored 12 points on six of 10 shooting in the quarter, which the Nets closed on a 12-2 run to pull within 61-60.

The Cavaliers managed a postseason-low eight points in the third quarter on four of 19 shooting, but James returned in the fourth to keep the Nets from getting the lead.

New Jersey's Mikki Moore completed a three-point play to make it 64-63 with 9:36 left, but James took over in the fourth surrounded by a smaller lineup that included shooters Marshall, Daniel Gibson and Damon Jones.

Drew Gooden scored 16 points for the Cavaliers, who made 11 of 27 three-pointers.

Kidd could not muster the energy to lead another rally and finished with 19 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists - averaging a triple-double in the series.

It was the second time Kidd accomplished the feat, becoming the third player to do so after Wilt Chamberlain and Magic Johnson.

Richard Jefferson had 16 points and eight rebounds, but Vince Carter was held to 11 points on four of 11 shooting in what might have been his last game with the Nets.

Carter can opt out of his contract after the season and may test free agency.

"We'll see what happens," he said. "We have a great nucleus of guys, so it would be great to keep it together."

Ian Parker
FIBA