NBA PLAYOFFS : Johnson Lifts Suns Past Spurs, 98-89

Kevin Johnson, the shortest player in the Phoenix lineup, offset David Robinson’s dominance inside with his ballhandling and 25 points, leading the Suns past the San Antonio Spurs, 98-89, Tuesday night in the first game of the best-of-seven series.

Robinson had 32 points and 10 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to keep the Suns from grabbingthe series opener, unlike the opening round, when they dropped the first two games to the Lakers.

Johnson was fouled on a drive to the basket with 2:39 to play and made two free throws to give the Suns a 92-85 lead. Then the 6-foot-1 guard managed to get a jump ball away from 6-9 J.R. Reid and feed Richard Dumas for a basket.

Oliver Miller’s dunk off a Johnson feed with 36.8 seconds left made it 94-87, clinching the victory.

Danny Ainge finished with two free throws and a layup in the final 20 seconds.

Dumas scored 22 points and Charles Barkley had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Suns. Antoine Carr was the only other Spur to score in double figures, with 19 points.