Suns Get Even With Spurs

The Phoenix Suns salvaged a home game and tied their series with San Antonio, and the main reason was Antonio McDyess making Tim Duncan look like a rookie again.

McDyess had 21 points and 11 rebounds and, more importantly, limited Duncan to half of his Game 1 scoring output as Phoenix beat San Antonio 108-101 Saturday to even their first-round series 1-1.

“First game it was all about Tim and David (Robinson),” McDyess said. “They played great. I didn’t want to take it personal, but, you know, there was so much hype about Tim is going to come out and do this or do that. He’s a great player, but it was all about him, and I just wanted to take all the good things he was doing away from him.”

Duncan, the Spurs’ sensational rookie, looked like a playoff veteran in Game 1, scoring 32 points as San Antonio won 102-96. On Saturday, Duncan had 16 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks, but he also had six turnovers.

McDyess, who left college after his sophomore season, is not much older than Duncan, and Suns maintain he has the same potential for superstardom.

“He’s just as quick as Duncan, if not quicker, and he gets up fast,” Mark Bryant said. “He’s crushing the shot every time he shoots (8-of-14), so he played great. I think he’s accepted the challenge.”

The series moves to San Antonio for games Monday and Wednesday. If a fifth game is needed, it will be played next Sunday.

Bryant rebounded a pair of missed 3-pointers in the last eight seconds and converted them into four free throws as Phoenix finished off the Spurs. Bryant finished with 14 points and nine rebounds, and George McCloud had 22 points, hitting his first six 3-point attempts.