Spurs Survive Suns This Time

The San Antonio Spurs found a way to win Monday, even if they still couldn’t stop Stephon Marbury.

Tim Duncan scored 11 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, including two free throws with 33.5 seconds left, as the Spurs rallied past the Phoenix Suns to even their best-of-seven Western Conference series, 1-1, at San Antonio. Game 3 is Friday at Phoenix.

Marbury, who made the winning three-pointer at the end of overtime in Game 1, had another big game, scoring 32 points.

Duncan also redeemed himself. In the opener, he went three of eight from the line and missed three free throws in overtime.

Duncan went four of six at the line Monday to help the Spurs overcome a seven-point deficit in the fourth quarter.

With the Spurs leading, 77-76, Manu Ginobili made a three-pointer with 1:02 left. Until then, San Antonio had gone only four for 22 behind the arc.

“Down the stretch we made a big shot, just like last game when Phoenix made the two threes,” said Spur Coach Gregg Popovich, referring to Marbury’s winner and a three-pointer by Amare Stoudemire in the waning seconds of regulation.

Marbury missed a drive to the basket on the possession after Ginobili’s basket. San Antonio then clinched the victory by making all four of its foul shots in the final minute -- Duncan’s two and two by Stephen Jackson with 12.5 seconds left.

Marbury still was pleased.

“We wanted the split, and we got it,” he said. “We have the home-court advantage.”

Jackson led the Spurs with 23 points.

Sacramento 108, Utah 95 -- Peja Stojakovic scored 29 points at Sacramento as the Kings finally controlled the tempo and took a 2-0 lead in their Western Conference series over the Jazz.

The Kings took a 25-point lead early in the fourth quarter -- and they did it mostly without leading scorer and rebounder Chris Webber, who left early in the second quarter because of a strained lower back.

Karl Malone had 15 points for the Jazz, which has four days off before Game 3 on Saturday at the Delta Center, where Sacramento has won eight in a row.

Indiana 89, Boston 77 -- Jermaine O’Neal had 23 points and 20 rebounds and Reggie Miller had 18 points, including a key three-pointer down the stretch, to help the Pacers win at Indianapolis and even the series, 1-1.

Antoine Walker had 19 points for the Celtics, who trailed by 16 in the third quarter and pulled to within one twice.