Free Live Odds - Scores and Odds - Sports News - Sports Information - Live Scores - Sports Statistics - Sports Articles - Sports Standings - Live Scoreboard - Live Odds - Sporting Events - Live Lines

(Sports Network) - The defending world champion San Antonio Spurs attempt to take a 2-0 lead over the Phoenix Suns tonight at the AT&T Center, as the teams continue their first-round playoff series.

Game 3 of this best-of-seven series is scheduled for Friday at the US Airways Center.

San Antonio finished in second place in the Southwest Division and is the third seed in the West playoffs. The Suns placed second in the Pacific and are seeded sixth.

In Game 1, Tim Duncan finished with 40 points and 15 rebounds 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 Suns at the AT&T Center.

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.

Ginobili scored 24 points for the third-seeded Spurs, who have won seven straight playoff contests. 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 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 for Phoenix, which has dropped three straight playoff games. Shaquille O'Neal scored 11, but played just 30 minutes due to foul trouble.

The Spurs and Suns have both won two straight Game 2s in the postseason.

There is a lot of playoff history between the teams, as this is the ninth time that the clubs have met in the postseason. The Suns defeated San Antonio in the first round in 1992 and 2000 and in the semis in 1993. The Spurs beat Phoenix in the opening round in 1996, 1998 and 2003 and also in the 2005 Western Conference finals.

Last year, the Suns were eliminated by the Spurs, 4-2, in a very physical and emotional Western Conference semifinals series. The series took an interesting turn in Game 4, which was won by the Suns. Veteran Robert Horry committed a flagrant foul on Steve Nash. Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw left the Phoenix bench briefly, and both were suspended for Game 5. Horry received a two-game suspension for his role in the incident.

San Antonio won Game 5, 88-85, at US Airways Center and eliminated the Suns with a 114-106 victory in Game 6 at the AT&T Center.

The last time the Spurs lost in the first round of the playoffs was in 2000, when they lost to the Suns, 3-1.

During the regular season, the Suns were 3-1 against San Antonio. The teams split a pair of contests at Phoenix, while the Suns swept two meetings at the AT&T Center.

The last time the Suns lost in round one was when they fell to the Spurs in six games during the 2003 postseason.

San Antonio was 34-7 at home during the regular season, while Phoenix was 25-16 as the visitor.