Suns Put Win in the Bank

The rebound of Tim Duncan’s missed free throw was tapped outside to Stephon Marbury, who immediately headed upcourt with the clock ticking.

What happened next can be considered lucky, or good. Or both.

Marbury banked in a running, game-winning three-point shot at the end of overtime to lift the Phoenix Suns to a 96-95 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in the opening game of their best-of-seven playoff series.

The shot off the glass came after a similar bank shot by the Suns’ Amare Stoudemire with 8.4 seconds left in regulation forced overtime.

“It was a teardrop from God,” said Marbury, who played all 53 minutes and scored 26 points. “I knew it was good.”

Teammate Shawn Marion wasn’t so sure.

“I saw it and I was going to try to get a tip-in, and it went in,” said Marion, who had 24 points and 12 rebounds. “He hit it, and I was so happy.”

Duncan missed three free throws in the final 16 seconds and the Spurs missed 15 in the game -- five by Duncan.

The final miss was tapped outside by David Robinson, the ball going straight to Marbury. He sped upcourt, jumped from a foot outside the three-point arc and released his shot just before the horn sounded.

“They did a great job of staying with us, and that allowed them to be in position to come up with that last shot,” Duncan said. “Now we just have to come back Monday [in Game 2].”

The victory was the Suns’ fourth in five games against San Antonio this season. Two of those games went into overtime.

The Spurs missed six of eight foul shots in overtime and managed to go only 26 for 41 (63.4%) at the line. Duncan was three of eight.

“Our two nemeses this year are free throws and turnovers,” San Antonio Coach Gregg Popovich said. “I’m thrilled with our [number of] free throws. I guess they have to go in before 41 [attempts] means something.”

Stoudemire’s three-pointer off the glass came from a nearly straightway angle to tie the score at 87. It was his third three-pointer of the season. He had 24 points and nine rebounds.

Duncan, double-teamed almost every time he touched the ball, then missed a corner jumper before the fourth-quarter buzzer.

Stephen Jackson led the Spurs with 23 points, while Robinson had 18 points on eight-for-eight shooting and Duncan scored 17 to go with 13 rebounds. Tony Parker made only two of 13 shots for seven points.