Duncan, Ginobili rescue Spurs

Tim Duncan saved the San Antonio Spurs with his first three-point basket of the season at the end of overtime, and Manu Ginobili made a layup at the end of the second extra period to send the defending champions past the Phoenix Suns, 117-115, on Saturday at San Antonio in Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round series.

The third-seeded Spurs celebrated almost as jubilantly as if they’d won the another title after beating the sixth-seed Suns.

This first-round series, which would have been fitting as a Western Conference finals, was the most anticipated. After one game, it has more than delivered.

“I guess they’re not going to go easy,” Suns Coach Mike D’Antoni said.

Michael Finley sent the game to overtime with a last-second three-pointer from the wing with 15 seconds left, tying the score at 93-93.

The Suns had controlled play for the first three quarters, leading by as many as 16 points despite early foul trouble for Shaquille O’Neal. The Suns had a six-point lead with a quarter left in regulation.

The Spurs took their first lead of the game late in the fourth quarter, but trailed, 93-90, with 1:10 to go after Leandro Barbosa’s fastbreak layup. That set the stage for Finley.

Duncan stole the show in the first overtime. With his team behind, 104-101, Duncan found himself all alone at the three-point line. After only a slight hesitation, he took the shot and made it with three seconds to play.

Duncan finished with 40 points and 15 rebounds.

In the second overtime, O’Neal’s dunk tied it at 112-112 with 1:33 to play. Ginobili’s layup then put the Spurs in front, 114-112.

Steve Nash missed a three-point shot from the corner with less than a minute to play. After a long and risky inbounds pass that crossed the width of the court to the Spurs’ Brent Barry, the Suns fouled, and Barry made one of two free throws to make it 115-112 Spurs.

The Suns went to Nash, who made a tough three-pointer from the corner to tie the score at 115-115. Then Ginobili drove the lane against Raja Bell and his layup fell with 1.8 seconds left for the win.

Utah 93, Houston 82 -- Deron Williams had 20 points and 10 assists as the Jazz, 17-24 on the road during the regular season, won its second straight playoff game in Houston. The last one came in Game 7 last season, and that was when the Rockets had center Yao Ming.

Yao is out for the series because of a foot injury. The Rockets are also playing without starting point guard Rafer Alston, who strained his right hamstring late in the season. His backup, Bobby Jackson, scored seven points on three-for-15 shooting.

New Orleans 104, Dallas 92 -- Chris Paul had 35 points and 10 assists in his first playoff game, leading the Hornets to a come-from-behind victory over the Mavericks at New Orleans in Game 1 of their first-round series.

David West, in his first playoff game since he was a rookie reserve, scored 23 points to help New Orleans storm back from a 12-point halftime deficit and win going away.

Cleveland 93, Washington 86 -- LeBron James scored 32 points, making two tough shots in traffic down the stretch, as the Cavaliers opened the Eastern Conference playoffs with a victory at Cleveland.

With the score 84-84, James drove the lane for a layup with 1:37 left. Following a miss by Gilbert Arenas, James powered past DeShawn Stevenson and made a floater with 55 seconds left.