Tony, Tim too much as Spurs eliminate Suns 92-87

BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhuanet) -- Tony and Tim were just too much for the Suns. Tony Parker tallied 31 points and Tim Duncan added 29 points and 17 rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs eliminated Phoenix from the NBA playoffs with a 92-87 Game 5 victory Tuesday night.

The third-seeded Spurs will meet the No. 2 seed Hornets in a second-round series that begins Saturday at New Orleans. The Hornets finished off their series with the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, also in five games.

Boris Diaw, who had a near triple-double in the Suns¡¦rout of the Spurs in Game 4, led the Suns with 22 points. Amare Stoudemire scored 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, Bell added 14 points and O¡¦Neal scored 13.

Four other players scored in the double digits, but the Suns had a number of costly turnovers down the stretch and were sent home yet again by the Spurs, who have eliminated Phoenix in four of their last five playoff appearances.

The Suns were trying to become the first NBA team to come back from a 0-3 deficit, and they won Game 4 in Phoenix with gusto. They stayed in Game 5 until the end, trying to force a Game 6 back in Phoenix.

But Spurs coach Gregg Popovich went to the Hack-a-Shaq and had his players intentionally foul O¡¦Neal. The strategy worked to San Antonio's advantage as O'Neal, a 52 percent career free-throw shooter, made just 5-of-14 from the line.

It was widely predicted that this might finally be the Suns¡¦year and that the series would go the full seven games. Instead, the Suns head home, falling short despite the midseason blockbuster trade for Shaquille O¡¦Neal ¢w who was brought in specifically to match up better with teams like San Antonio.

(Agencies)