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Spurs 105, Suns 91: April 14, 2012
Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs (21) scores the game’s opening points against Phoenix during NBA action at the ATT Center on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs scores and is fouled by Marcin Gortag (4) of the Phoenix Suns during NBA action at the ATT Center on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Duncan converted the ensuing free throw. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Kawhi Leonard (2) of the San Antonio Spurs is fouled by Channing Frye (8) of the Phoenix Suns during NBA action at the ATT Center on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Leonard made the shot and converted the ensuing free throw. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Tim Duncan (21) of the San Antonio Spurs congratulates teammate Kawhi Leonard (2) after Leonard scored while being fouled during first-half NBA action against the Phoenix Suns at the ATT Center on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs (9) runs after a loose ball as Marcin Gortat of the Phoenix Suns watches during NBA action at the ATT Center on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Grant Hill (33) of the Phoenix Suns is unable to sink a layup as Kawhi Leonard (2) of the San Antonio Spurs defends during NBA action at the ATT Center on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Tiago Splitter (22) of the San Antonio Spurs battles Markieff Morris (11) of the Phoenix Suns for a loose ball during NBA action at the ATT Center on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Tony Parker of the Spurs drives to the basket during NBA action against the Phoenix Suns at the ATT Center on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Tim Duncan of the Spurs Shannon Brown of the Phoenix Suns during first-half NBA action at the ATT Center on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Matt Bonner of the Spurs dunks after a steal against the Phoenix Suns during NBA action at the ATT Center on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Tim Duncan scores on this shot against Phoenix during first-half NBA action at the ATT Center on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs hangs from the rim before he and his teammates are introduced before their game against the Phoenix Suns at the ATT Center on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
The Spurs Silver Dancers perform during a timeout at the ATT Center on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Stephen Jackson of the San Antonio Spurs (3) runs out of bounds toward head trainer Will Sevening during NBA action at the ATT Center on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Patty Mills of the San Antonio Spurs hits a long-range three-point shot to end the third quarter as the Spurs defeat the Phoenix Suns, 105-91, during NBA action at the ATT Center on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Boris Diaw of the Spurs (33) defends as Markieff Morris of the Phoenix Suns shoots during NBA action at the ATT Center on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Stephen Jackson (3) of the San Antonio Spurs dunks against the Phoenix Suns during NBA action at the ATT Center on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Ronnie Price of the Phoenix Suns runs into fans and a photographer during NBA action at the ATT Center on Saturday, April 14, 2012. No one was hurt in the incident. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Tiago Splitter of the San Antonio Spurs (22) blocks an attempted dunk by Michael Redd of the Phoenix Suns during NBA action at the ATT Center on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
By Jeff McDonald
The Red Sea opened up for the Red Rocket in the second quarter Saturday against Phoenix, and Matt Bonner suddenly found himself contemplating options he should never be permitted to contemplate.
“I couldn’t decide between the windmill or the 360,” Bonner said after the Spurs’ easy-does-it 105-91 victory over the erstwhile surging Suns. “I ended up going with the one-handed power slam.”
As a dunker, it turns out, Bonner remains a pretty good 3-point shooter.
Despite Bonner’s postgame protests to the contrary — “I bruised my elbow on the rim!” — certain KIA-hopping All-Stars needn’t lose sleep. Bonner’s jam won’t be soon showing up on best-selling NBA posters, or a national car commercial, any time soon.
“There’s Blake Griffin,” Tim Duncan deapanned. “And then there’s Matt Bonner.”
The Spurs’ chase for the top seed in the Western Conference rolled on Saturday, with a resounding victory over a Suns team scrapping for its playoff life that was rarely as close as the final score showed.
With it, the Spurs (42-16) sewed up the Southwest Division and locked down home-court advantage for the first round of the playoffs.
Behind another throwback night from Duncan, who had 13 of his 19 points in a 6-for-8 first quarter, the Spurs burst to a 21-4 lead and kept the accelerator pressed to the floorboard.
Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard each added 14 points for the Spurs, who led by as many as 28 points before turning the night over to the bench.
“Sometimes it’s your worst nightmare to jump to a big lead at the beginning of an NBA game,” said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, whose team earned the 18th division crown in franchise history and ninth of his tenure. “I thought they focused well and did a good job.”
Duncan set the tone, starting 5 of 5, scoring on Suns center Marcin Gortat inside and out. His early flurry cost Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry two timeouts.
After the first, Suns begin double-teaming Duncan. He responded by finding Leonard for a 3-pointer to cap a 14-0 run for the Spurs.
By end of first quarter, Duncan had scored a baker’s dozen, matching Phoenix tally for tally, and the Spurs led by 35-13. Then, on the Spurs’ first possession of the second quarter, Bonner collected a loose ball on the right arc, lowered his head and — ahem — exploded for an uncontested dunk.
It was his only field goal of the game.
“It’s a new attitude,” said Bonner, better known as a 6-foot-10 3-point marksman. “I’m trying to usher in a new excitement here on the Spurs. Dunks, alley oops, you name it.”
The Spurs still seem to be faring quite well with the old attitude.
Before the game, Popovich compared the ageless production of the 35-year-old Duncan and Steve Nash, the Suns’ 38-year-old point guard, in vinter’s terms.
“They’re like fine wine,” Popovich said.
Nash, however, went down after six minutes in the first quarter with a strained right hip and did not return. Duncan, meanwhile, went vintage.
When the Suns climbed within 16 in the second quarter, Popovich went back to Duncan, who also ended with 11 rebounds.
Duncan immediately hit a turnaround jumper on Gortat, then — so as not to allow Bonner all the fun — followed with a left-handed dunk straight out of the time machine. Rally quelled.
“Timmy’s been Mr. Steady all year long,” Popovich said. “Bringing it every night.”
Before the game, Gentry praised resilience of his Suns, who had weathered a period of six of seven games on the road to rise within a game of the West’s final playoff spot.
“It’s not like we can exhale now,” said Gentry, whose team fell to 31-29. “Our backs are still against the wall.”
If Nash misses much time with his latest ailment, Saturday might have marked the dying breath of the Suns’ postseason aspirations.
The Spurs, meanwhile, remain tied in the loss column with Oklahoma City for the top seed in the West. They own the head-to-head tiebreaker should both teams win out. And Saturday, they held serve with a victory so thorough it included a Bonner dunk.
Afterward, in a jubilant home locker room, someone passed around an old photo of an Afro-wearing Julius Erving dunking on some hapless, disco-era Seattle SuperSonic.
“Hey,” Boris Diaw shouted to nobody in particular. “Just like Matty tonight.”
A new excitement? Perhaps. But also, a familiar result.
jmcdonald@express-news.net
Twitter: @JMcDonald_SAEN
