NBA

• Ginobili's running layup gives Spurs wild double-OT win in Game 1

  
  

  San Antonio, TX (Sports Network) - Tim Duncan had 40 points and 15 boards and tied the game in overtime with his first three-pointer of the season, but it was Manu Ginobili's layup with 1.8 seconds remaining in the second overtime that lifted the Spurs to a thrilling 117-115 win over the Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of their best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinal series.

  After Steve Nash tied the game with a flailing three from the left corner with 15.7 seconds to play in the second OT, Ginobili beat Raja Bell down the left side of the lane and banked in a layup to put the Spurs on top. Nash's 70-foot heave was well off the mark as the buzzer sounded and the Spurs escaped with a dramatic win.

  Game 2 will be played Tuesday at San Antonio's AT&T Center.

  Ginobili scored 24 points for the third-seeded Spurs, who ousted the Suns, four games to two, in the Western Conference semis in 2007 on their way to the NBA title. Tony Parker added 26 points, while Michael Finley scored 13, including a three-pointer in the waning seconds of regulation to force overtime.

  Amare Stoudemire led the sixth-seeded Suns with 33 points, but fouled out late in the first overtime. Nash contributed 25 points and 13 assists, while Boris Diaw and Leandro Barbosa added 12 points apiece. Shaquille O'Neal scored 11, but played just 30 minutes due to foul trouble.

  The Suns took control early in overtime, and the Spurs couldn't get closer than three as Phoenix led 104-101 in the final minute. Phoenix had a chance to ice the game with a basket in the final 15 seconds, but Stoudemire was called for a charge, fouling him out of the game and giving the Spurs a chance to tie with 12.6 seconds to play.

  Out of a timeout, Ginobili drove to the basket and the Suns left Duncan alone behind the three-point line. Ginobili kicked the ball out, and Duncan buried the shot, tying the game with three seconds to play.

  Diaw's turnaround jumper was off target at the buzzer, sending the game to a second extra session.

  The squad's alternated scoring in the second overtime, with Ginobili's floater giving the Spurs a 112-110 lead inside of two minutes to play. O'Neal followed a Nash miss with a jam to tie the game, but Ginobili knifed to the basket for a layup to put the Spurs ahead by two with 1:21 remaining.

  After Nash and Ginobili traded missed threes, Diaw couldn't put in a layup and Brent Barry, a career 82 percent free throw shooter, made just 1-of-2 at the line as the Spurs led 115-112 with 19.5 ticks left, and the dramatic finish ensued.

  Trailing by six at the start of the fourth, the Spurs rallied and finally surged in front when Duncan found Kurt Thomas for a layup that gave San Antonio its first lead of the game, 88-86, with 2:23 remaining.

  Nash hit a pair of free throws to tie the game, but Duncan answered with a basket to put San Antonio back in front.

  Stoudemire then converted a three-point play to give Phoenix a 91-90 lead, and after Ginobili's layup was blocked, Barbosa streaked out for a layup to restore a three-point Phoenix lead, 93-90, with 1:10 left.

  Finley missed a three on San Antonio's next trip, but the Spurs forced a shot clock violation to get the ball back with 20 seconds to play.

  On the ensuing possession, Finley curled off a screen on the right wing, found himself wide open, took a pass from Ginobili and canned a three to tie the game at 93-93 with 15.1 seconds remaining.

  Phoenix had a chance to pull out the win in regulation, but Barbosa's floater clanged off the rim as time expired.

  The Suns led by as many as 16 in the first half, but Duncan scored 20 in the opening session and San Antonio trailed by just eight, 48-40, at the break.

  San Antonio remained close in third, pulling within 60-55 on Parker's baseline three just before the halfway mark. The Spurs got as close as four, but Phoenix held on and maintained a six-point edge after 36 minutes, 71-65. Game Notes

  The Spurs were 34-7 at home during the regular season...The Suns won three of four between the teams during the regular season, including both matchups in San Antonio...The Spurs shot 50.5 percent from the field, while the Suns made an even 50 percent of their shots...Thomas had four points and 10 rebounds for the Spurs...Bell scored 14 points for Phoenix.

  04/19 19:09:32 ET