Finally, Suns show signs of life

SAN ANTONIO – Even if the Phoenix Suns don’t come all the way back and make the NBA Finals, they’re guaranteed of having at least one good memory from the Western Conference finals.

No, make that a great one.

Finally getting out on the fast break and doing a better job on defense, the Suns showed a never-quit spirit from start to finish – especially the finish – to beat the San Antonio Spurs 111-106 Monday night and prevent being swept in four games.

Amare Stoudemire was far better than his statistics (31 points, five rebounds) showed, making a series of big plays down the stretch. He held Tim Duncan to 15 points, only four in the second half, and leaped above the rim to block his dunk attempt with 36 seconds left that would have brought San Antonio within one point.

“Unbelievable,” Phoenix guard Steve Nash said. “Even as a teammate, you were just in awe. He was all over the place. He made spectacular plays.”

Phoenix went up by 12 points, its biggest lead of the series, midway through the third quarter and never gave it up, despite the Spurs doing their best to pull off their third fourth-quarter comeback of the series, twice getting within a point in the late going.

The victory ended Phoenix’s longest losing streak since dropping six straight in January and, more importantly, sends them home for Game 5 of the series Wednesday night.

“We are sad. We are angry,” said Manu Ginobili, who led San Antonio with 28 points. “But this series continues and we are in great shape. The goal is to go to the Finals, not to sweep them.”